The Dog is the eleventh of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Recent and coming Dog years include 2006 (from 29 January 2006), 2018 (from 16 February 2018) and 2030 (from 3 February 2030). A Dog year begins on the lunar new year and not on 1 January, so a Dog birthday in January or February may belong to the animal before.
Folklore, not science, is the right frame: a Dog year says nothing certain about the people born in it. This page sets out the Dog as the tradition describes it, with every Dog year and its exact start date, and you can check a birth date with the Chinese zodiac calculator.
Years of the Dog
These Dog years run from 1948 to 2047, with dates from the Hong Kong Observatory’s table, as in the calculator. Each Dog year begins on the lunar new year in China and Hong Kong and ends the day before the next. The element column is the element of that particular year, and the last column names it in the sixty-year cycle, where the Dog is always paired with the branch xu.
| Chinese year | Begins | Ends | Element | Stem and branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 18 February 1958 | 7 February 1959 | Yang Earth | Wu-xu |
| 1970 | 6 February 1970 | 26 January 1971 | Yang Metal | Geng-xu |
| 1982 | 25 January 1982 | 12 February 1983 | Yang Water | Ren-xu |
| 1994 | 10 February 1994 | 30 January 1995 | Yang Wood | Jia-xu |
| 2006 | 29 January 2006 | 17 February 2007 | Yang Fire | Bing-xu |
| 2018 | 16 February 2018 | 4 February 2019 | Yang Earth | Wu-xu |
| 2030 | 3 February 2030 | 22 January 2031 | Yang Metal | Geng-xu |
| 2042 | 22 January 2042 | 9 February 2043 | Yang Water | Ren-xu |
For example, someone born on 19 January 2006 was born before the lunar new year of 2006, which began on 29 January 2006, so that person is a Rooster and not a Dog. If a Dog birthday falls within a day of the new year, check the family date, since the time zone can move it.
Its place in the zodiac
In the Great Race the Dog, a fine swimmer, is said to have arrived eleventh because it stopped to play in the water along the way. The story presents this fondly: the Dog is loved for its good nature more than for any speed. Tellings differ in the detail.
In the older calendar of earthly branches the Dog is xu (戌), branch number 11. It is Yang, its fixed element is Earth, its double-hour is 7 pm to 9 pm and its compass direction is west-north-west. That fixed element stays the same in every Dog year, whereas the year element changes.
What the tradition says
The Dog is described as loyal, honest, fair-minded and protective, a person who stands by friends and speaks up for justice. It is the animal of guardianship in Chinese folklore. The shadow side described is worry and caution.
- Loyalty. Staying beside people in hard times.
- Fairness. A strong sense of what is right.
- Protectiveness. Looking out for the vulnerable.
- Honesty. Direct and sincere communication.
Growth edges
Descriptions of the Dog mention anxiety, pessimism and a readiness to see threat where none exists, along with a sharp tongue when principles feel crossed. The suggested practice is to name one thing that went well each evening and to wait a day before sending a hard message.
In relationships
In close relationships the Dog is pictured as devoted, trustworthy and caring, valuing honesty above all. The growth point is trust: letting a partner show good faith before checking. It is a thought to consider for yourself, not a verdict on any pair.
In work
Traditional descriptions link the Dog with law, social work, teaching, medicine, security and community roles, where fairness and care are valued. These describe an approach that appears in any field.
The Dog with each element
The Dog returns every twelve years while the elements turn in a cycle of ten, so Dog years carry five different year elements, and the tradition reads each as a variation on the Dog. Across 1948 to 2047 they fall as follows.
- Wood Dog, in 1994: the Dog’s loyal fairness with a year that the tradition calls cooperative, idealistic and growth-minded. Read about Wood.
- Fire Dog, in 2006: the Dog’s loyal fairness with a year that the tradition calls energetic, enthusiastic and expressive. Read about Fire.
- Earth Dog, in 1958 and 2018: the Dog’s loyal fairness with a year that the tradition calls patient, practical and loyal. Read about Earth.
- Metal Dog, in 1970 and 2030: the Dog’s loyal fairness with a year that the tradition calls determined, precise and self-disciplined. Read about Metal.
- Water Dog, in 1982 and 2042: the Dog’s loyal fairness with a year that the tradition calls intuitive, adaptable and thoughtful. Read about Water.
Compatibility in the tradition
The tradition compares animals by a handful of old pairings. For the Dog the list is:
- Trine allies: Tiger and Horse, with the Dog in the spirited and independent trine.
- Secret friend (six harmonies): Rabbit.
- Opposite (a clash): Dragon.
- Harm: Rooster.
- Penalty: Ox and Goat.
None of these is a verdict on a Dog’s relationships. The compatibility overview explains each pairing, and the Chinese zodiac compatibility tool compares a Dog with anyone, from two birth dates.
Names and variations
In Chinese the animal is gou. It is the eleventh animal and, on the zodiac wheel, sits directly opposite the Dragon, which is why the two form a traditional clash pair. English writers use Dog for the year.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which years are Years of the Dog?
Recent and upcoming Dog years are 2006, 2018, 2030. The next one begins on 3 February 2030 and is a Yang Metal year (Geng-xu). Every Dog year to 2047 is in the table above, with its end date.
↳ I was born in January or February: am I A Dog?
Only if your birth date falls on or after the lunar new year that opens a Dog year. For the Dog year 2006 the new year was 29 January 2006, so a birth before that date counts as the Rooster. The calculator checks a Dog birthday, or any date from 1901 to 2100.
↳ Is the Year of the Dog lucky?
The Dog is traditionally a symbol of loyalty and guardianship, and a Dog year is often described as a time to value trusted people. This is a custom, and it is not evidence of any effect on fortune.
↳ Who is the Dog most compatible with?
By the traditional pairings, the Dog's trine allies are Tiger and Horse, and its secret friend is Rabbit. The tradition gives no score, and a Dog can do well or badly with any animal.
Return to the Chinese zodiac hub, or read about the Rooster and the Pig.