What the Year of the Dog means?

What the Year of the Dog means?

The dog occupies the 11th place of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. The recent years of the Dog are 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, and 1946… The next dog year will come in 2030. If you were born in one of the years, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Dog. 

According to Chinese culture, the dog is a sign of loyalty and prosperity. The Chinese believe the arrival of a dog to one's house means the arrival of wealth. Hence, people born in the year of the dog are believed to have these personality traits. 

Year of the Dog 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970...

The Chinese zodiac Dog years come every 12 years as a cycle. The most recent zodiac years are:  2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946. 

Chinese Zodiac Dog Years and Element

Chinese zodiac years are based on the Chinese lunar calendar which is around one or two months later than the Gregorian calendar. 

In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. The most recent dog year is 2018. It is the year of the Earth Dog.

Dog Years Birth Dates Element
2030 3 Feb 2030 to 22 Jan 2031 Gold Dog
2018 16 Feb 2018 to 4 Feb 2019 Earth Dog
2006 29 Jan 2006 to 17 Feb 2007 Fire Dog
1994 10 Feb 1994 to 30 Jan 1995 Wood Dog
1982 25 Jan 1982 to 12 Feb 1983 Water Dog
1970 6 Feb 1970 to 26 Jan 1971 Gold Dog
1958 18 Feb 1958 to 7 Feb 1959 Earth Dog
1946 2 Feb 1946 to 21 Jan 1947 Fire Dog

Use the Chinese Zodiac calculator below to find out your zodiac sign and element.

Your Chinese zodiac sign is the

People born in the Year of the Ox are

  • Five Elements:
  • Lucky Numbers:
  • Lucky Colors:

Chinese Zodiac 1994

1994 is the year of the wood dog. The wood dog year begins on 10 Feb 1994  and ends on  30 Jan 1995. People born during this period are wood dogs. Wood dogs are earnest, friendly, cautious,  and reliable. 

Chinese Zodiac 1982

1982 is the year of the water dog. Chinese zodiac 1982 is from 25 Jan. 1982 to 12 Feb. 1983.  The water dogs are attractive, cheerful,  and loyal to friends. 

Chinese Zodiac 2006

The Chinese zodiac sign in 2006 is the dog with the element of fire, so it is the year of the fire dog.  Chinese zodiac 2006 begins on  29 Jan 2006 and ends on 17 Feb 2007.  The Fire dogs are generous and easygoing. 

Chinese Zodiac 1970

1970 is the year of the gold dog. The gold dog year starts on 6 Feb 1970 and continues to 26 Jan 1971. If you were born during this period, your Chinese zodiac sign is the gold dog.  The gold dog is independent and talented. 

Chinese Zodiac Dog's Lucky Numbers and Colors

See below the lucky numbers and colors for dogs. Follow these lucky things and avoid these unlucky ones for you, and you will have a prosperous life. 

What the Year of the Dog means?

Dog's Lucky Numbers and Colors

  • Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 9
  • Lucky Color: red, green
  • Lucky Direction: south

Unlucky Things Dogs Should Avoid

  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6, 7
  • Unlucky Colors: brown, yellow
  • Unlucky Direction: north

Dog’s Personality

Dogs are loyal, courageous, and firm. They have a strong sense of justice. Although they may be not so good at expressing themselves, they are willing to dedicate themselves to the person in their hearts. 

Dogs are loyal and kind. They dedicate themselves to their families and work very hard at their workplace. They are usually the best employees in companies. 

However, dog people often lack their own opinion when dealing with complex things. They are inclined to be blind. It is easy for them to drift with the tide if they don't have scientific guidance.

Dog's Love Compatibility - The Romantic Relationship

Each Chinese zodiac sign can be best or worst matched with other zodiac signs due to its personality traits.   The best matches for the dog are the zodiac Tiger and Horse, while the worst match is the zodiac  Roost. 

What the Year of the Dog means?

Best Match with Dog: Tiger, Horse

Dog people and tiger people have similar personalities and could make a satisfying match if they have similar preferences. The tiger and dog can cooperate well with each other at work. If you have a dog partner, you will get a fortune easily.

Drawing on the dog’s independence and sincerity, the energetic horse people would fall in love with the glamorous dogs at first sight. Dog people and horse people will work for the same goals and offer support to each other.

Worst Match with Dog: Rooster

Roosters are not compatible with dogs as they have quite different natures. Relationships between Roosters and Dogs will be full of tension and end in arguments. They fight often and can't compromise.

Dog's Horoscope in 2022

The fortune for dog people is average in 2022. They will obtain some achievements in careers while there are also many ups and downs. 

What the Year of the Dog means?

Dog’s Career Predictions in 2022

Dogs' fortune in career depends on the kind of work they are engaging in. Dogs who are engaging in creative work such as designing will make great achievements in 2022, while dogs who are doing their own business may see many twists and turns in 2022. 

Dog’s Wealth Fortune in 2022

Dogs who are doing creative work will have a very prosperous year in 2022 in their career. They may have the chance for promotion in their workplace and see an increase in salaries. While dogs who run their own business may not be so lucky this year, they will see many hardships in their business. 

Dog’s Love Horoscope in 2022

The relationship is the biggest challenge for dogs in 2022. It is hard for single dogs to meet their beloved ones this year. For married dogs, your relationship with your partners may not be as sweet as before. 

Dog’s Health Horoscope in 2022

Dogs, your health fortune is not so good in 2022. The chance for you to get hurt in road accidents is a bit high, so be careful when driving on roads. 

Read more details on Dog's Horoscope in 2022.

Famous People Born in the Year of the Dog

  • Anne Hathaway (American actress): born 12 November 1982)
  • Michael Jackson (American singer and dancer.): 29 August 1958
  • George W. Bush (the 43rd president of the United States): born 6 July 1946
  • Zhou Enlai (the 1st Premier of the People's Republic of China): born 5 March 1898
  • Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom): born 30 November 1874

Years of the Dog include 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Ranking as the eleventh animal in Chinese zodiac. Dog is the symbol of loyalty and honesty. People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. On the negative side, they are likely to be self-righteous, cold, terribly stubborn, slippery, critical of others and not good at social activities.

Chinese: 狗 (Gǒu)

Earthly Branches: Xu (戌)

Energy: Yang

Five Elements: Earth (Tu)

Lucky Flowers: rose, oncidium, cymbidium orchids

Lucky Gemstone: Diamond

Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 9

Lucky Colors: green, red, purple

Lucky Directions: east, southeast, south

Best Match: Tiger, Rabbit, Horse

Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6, 7

Unlucky Colors: Blue, White, Golden

Unlucky Direction: Southeast

Worst Match: Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Rooster

Start Date End Date Associated Element Heavenly Branch
02/14/1934 02/03/1935 Yang Wood Jia Xu
02/02/1946 01/21/1947 Yang Fire Bing Xu
02/18/1958 02/07/1959 Yang Earth Wu Xu
02/06/1970 01/26/1971 Yang Metal Geng Xu
01/25/1982 02/12/1983 Yang Water Ren Xu
02/10/1994 01/30/1995 Yang Wood Jia Xu
01/29/2006 02/17/2007 Yang Fire Bing Xu
02/16/2018 02/04/2019 Yang Earth Wu Xu
02/03/2030 01/22/2031 Yang Metal Geng Xu

Dog Man and Women Peronality Traits
Male Dog Personality  Female Dog Personality 
Dog People's Personality by Five Elements Click the following links to get personalities and horoscope for the five types of Dog.
Dog People's Personality by Blood Types
Dog People with Blood Type O Dog People with Blood Type A Dog People with Blood Type B Dog People with Blood Type AB Dogs are human's most loyal friends protesting their owners since the primitive society. The touching stories about dogs and human beings are too numerous to enumerate. On the street, you can see the dogs helping the blind to cross the street. The renowned Temple of Eighteen Deities on the northern of Taiwan is sacred to a dog saving his master. Dog people have a strong sense of justice. They are brave, forthright, friendly, loyal to his friends and like righting wrongs. Loyal and honest, they have the most profound sense of duty in career and don’t played job - hopping easily. As a common employee, they can perform well thus are highly regarded by their superiors. There may be problems in work after thirty-five, which requires them to overcome calmly and serenely. They are also good working partners. In love, they are fiercely loyal to those they love.

Their shortcomings for the people under the dog sign are easily angry and irritable. They too often borrow trouble, and anticipate that may geer appear. Also, they are stubborn. They usually pay much attention on the theory while lacking action and judgment. So, never act arbitrarily and dictatorially or they will suffer many disappointments. What’s more, they are fond of getting to the bottom of matters, criticizing others, suspicious and fussy.

Each Chinese zodiac sign has compatible or incompatible signs according to their characteristics’ compatibility. If your find your signs are compatible, you could get along well in most cases. In opposite, you need to do more effort to be together harmoniously.

Following are the compatibility chart of the Dog with other signs.

What the Year of the Dog means?

Best Match
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Lively Pair
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Worst Match
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Dog's Fate by Birth Time
Best Birth Time:  09:00AM - 11:00AM, 11:00AM - 01:00PM, and 03:00PM - 05:00PM

Dog's Fate by Birth Date


Best Birth Dates: the 1st, 6th, 7th, 17th, 21th, 24th, 26th, 28th and the 30th day in Chinese lunar calendar

Dog's Fate by Birth Month


Best Birth Months: The Dog people born in January, February, March, August or December are lucky to enjoy a good fortune in various aspects.
January: The Dog people born in January are honest. They usually could receive love, kindness and help from their parents thus enjoy a comfortable, safe and carefree life.
February: The Dogs born in February usually have great courage. Although their life are mingled with both hope and fear, they can get help from others thus spend the whole life without misfortune.
March: Delicate, pretty, versatile, clever and capable, the Dog people born in March usually could have a good income. They like to juggle ideas when doing things. Also, they have the ability to achieve great success by standing on their own feet.
August: The Dog people with the birth month of August are bright, intelligent, able and extraordinary talented. So, they could win recognition from others. Also, career for them could blossom and money rolls in.
December: The Dogs born in December are blessed to enjoy the splendor and joys of family life. They don’t need to tug all the life to make a living.

Note: The dates and months here is based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Please use the Gregorian-Chinese Calendar Converter tool on Chinese calendar page to find your lunar birth date and month.

The people under the Dog sign are good at doing ordinary yet noble, simple yet valuable work, in which they can always be diligent, conscientious and devoted, make the best efforts, and win respect and high opinion. They are suitable for the jobs including politicians, philosophers, doctors, teachers, judges, writers, nurses, actors, counselor, priests, psychologists and more.
Ideal Jobs and Work Partners for Dog

● Best Working Partners: Rabbit, Tiger and Horse ● Best Age to Start a Business for Dog: Age 20 – 40 ● Best Career Field for Dog: Iron and steel industry ● Best Business to Do: Home Decoration Shop, Furniture Shop

● Best Direction for Career: South, Southeast, Southwest

When selecting a Chinese name for the people born in the year of Dog, there are some dos and don’ts you need to know which are based on the characters of the Dog, zodiac compatibility and Chinese five element theories. Let's take a look at what are good and auspicious names for the male and female Dog.
Auspicious Chinese Names for the Dog