The Dog is the eleventh animal of the Chinese zodiac: loyal, honest and protective. For thousands of years dogs guarded Chinese homes and fields, and in the zodiac the Dog stands for faithfulness, justice and, thanks to a very good pun, prosperity.
In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Dog year, what the Dog means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Dog years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.
Key takeaways
- The next Year of the Dog runs from 3 February 2030 to 22 January 2031 (a Metal Dog year).
- Dog years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042. Each starts on Chinese New Year.
- The Dog stands for loyalty, protection, honesty and prosperity.
- Tradition describes Dogs as loyal, fair and reliable, but also prone to worry.
- Best matches: Rabbit, Tiger and Horse. Classic clash: Dragon.
When is the next Year of the Dog?
The most recent Dog year ran from 16 February 2018 to 4 February 2019. The next one starts on 3 February 2030 and ends on 22 January 2031.
The zodiac year starts on Chinese New Year, which moves between 21 January and 20 February. Born in January or early February? Check the start date below. A neat royal example: Prince William, born in June 1982, is a Dog, while his wife Catherine, born on 9 January 1982, is a Rooster. The Dog year only began on 25 January 1982.
Year of the Dog dates
Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1934 | 14 Feb 1934 | 3 Feb 1935 | Wood Dog |
1946 | 2 Feb 1946 | 21 Jan 1947 | Fire Dog |
1958 | 18 Feb 1958 | 7 Feb 1959 | Earth Dog |
1970 | 6 Feb 1970 | 26 Jan 1971 | Metal Dog |
1982 | 25 Jan 1982 | 12 Feb 1983 | Water Dog |
1994 | 10 Feb 1994 | 30 Jan 1995 | Wood Dog |
2006 | 29 Jan 2006 | 17 Feb 2007 | Fire Dog |
2018 | 16 Feb 2018 | 4 Feb 2019 | Earth Dog |
2030 | 3 Feb 2030 | 22 Jan 2031 | Metal Dog |
2042 | 22 Jan 2042 | 9 Feb 2043 | Water Dog |
Each Dog year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng), which change every two years. The Dog's own natural element is Earth, so an Earth Dog year like 2018 is considered the most steady and dependable of all.
What does the Dog mean in Chinese culture?
狗 gǒu · dog
In the Great Race, the Dog was one of the best swimmers. But the water was so nice that it stopped to play and splash around, and arrived eleventh. Talented, honest, and easily distracted by fun.
In traditional China, a dog's job was to guard the house and the farm, and its loyalty was legendary. Chinese has a saying for it: 狗不嫌家贫 gǒu bù xián jiā pín, "a dog never minds that its family is poor". The dog stands for faithfulness and justice, and stone guardian dogs and lions protected many gates.
The dog also gave Chinese a cosmic villain. When a solar or lunar eclipse happened, people said the 天狗 Tiāngǒu, the "heavenly dog", was eating the sun or the moon. Villagers banged drums and pots to scare it away until the light came back.
In Dog years, there's a favourite piece of wordplay. A dog barks 汪汪 wāngwāng, which sounds like 旺 wàng, "prosperous, thriving". Expect New Year cards, red envelopes and shop windows full of 旺旺 whenever the Dog comes round.
Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Dog
In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. It's cultural heritage rather than science, but the Dog's portrait is one of the most loved.
Strengths
Loyal. Once you're a Dog's friend, you're a friend for life.
Honest. Dogs can't stand lies and say things as they are.
Fair. They have a strong sense of justice and stand up for the underdog.
Protective. A Dog defends the people it loves without hesitation.
Reliable. Dogs keep their promises and show up when it matters.
Challenges
Worrier. Dogs often imagine the worst before it happens.
Stubborn about principles. When a Dog thinks something is wrong, it won't budge.
Pessimistic. Their caution can tip into expecting failure.
Slow to trust. New people have to earn a Dog's confidence.
Judgmental. High standards of right and wrong can make Dogs quick to judge.
Dog quick facts
Position | 11th of 12 |
Earthly branch | 戌 xū |
Hours of the Dog | 7 pm to 9 pm |
Fixed element | Earth |
Yin or yang | Yang |
Zodiac trio (三合 sānhé) | Dog, Tiger, Horse |
A classic trap for learners: 戌 xū (the Dog's branch), 戍 shù (to guard) and 戊 wù (a heavenly stem) differ by one tiny stroke inside.
Lucky signs for the Dog
These are folk beliefs, not science, and sources don't always agree. We use the list published by China Highlights for all twelve animals, so the guides stay consistent.
Lucky | Unlucky | |
|---|---|---|
Numbers | 3, 4, 9 (and numbers containing them, like 34 and 49) | 1, 6, 7 |
Colours | Red, green, purple | Blue, white, gold |
Flowers | Rose, cymbidium orchid | |
Directions | East, south, northeast | Southeast |
Dog compatibility
Traditional compatibility comes from each animal's position on the zodiac wheel: trios four years apart (三合 sānhé) and pairs of "secret friends" (六合 liùhé) get along; opposites six years apart clash (六冲 liùchōng), and six pairs "harm" each other (六害 liùhài).
Sign | Why | |
|---|---|---|
Best match | Rabbit 兔 | Secret friends (六合). The gentle Rabbit eases the Dog's worries, and the Dog makes the Rabbit feel safe. |
Best match | Tiger 虎 | Same trio (三合). Two brave, principled signs who fight for the same causes. |
Best match | Horse 马 | Same trio (三合). The Horse brings fun, the Dog brings loyalty. |
Challenging | Dragon 龙 | Direct clash (六冲). The Dog questions authority, and the Dragon hates being questioned. |
Challenging | Rooster 鸡 | Harm pair (六害). Two strong opinions about right and wrong, rarely the same. |
Zodiac compatibility is tradition, not a rule. Prince William (Dog) and Catherine (Rooster) are technically a "harm pair".
Famous people born in the Year of the Dog
Name | Known for | Born |
|---|---|---|
Madonna | Singer | 1958 |
Michael Jackson | Singer | 1958 |
Lang Lang 郎朗 | Pianist | 1982 |
Prince William | British royal | 1982 |
Justin Bieber | Singer | 1994 |
Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Dog
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
狗 | gǒu | dog |
狗年 | gǒunián | Year of the Dog |
属狗 (屬狗) | shǔ gǒu | to be born in a Dog year |
小狗 | xiǎogǒu | puppy |
汪汪 | wāngwāng | woof woof |
旺 | wàng | prosperous (sounds like a bark) |
单身狗 (單身狗) | dānshēngǒu | "single dog": a single person (self-mocking slang) |
狗腿 | gǒutuǐ | "dog leg": a suck-up, a yes-man |
天狗 | Tiāngǒu | the heavenly dog that eats the moon |
狗急跳墙 (狗急跳牆) | gǒu jí tiào qiáng | a cornered dog will jump the wall: desperate people do desperate things |
Example sentences
- 我属狗，我很忠诚。 Wǒ shǔ gǒu, wǒ hěn zhōngchéng. I'm a Dog, I'm very loyal.
- 情人节又到了，我还是单身狗。 Qíngrénjié yòu dào le, wǒ háishi dānshēngǒu. Valentine's Day is here again, and I'm still single.
- 你别那么狗腿，老板不会给你加薪的。 Nǐ bié nàme gǒutuǐ, lǎobǎn bú huì gěi nǐ jiāxīn de. Stop sucking up, the boss isn't going to give you a raise.
单身狗 is everywhere around Valentine's Day and 11/11 ("Singles' Day"). Calling yourself one is perfectly fine and always gets a laugh.
Taiwan note: in Taiwanese Mandarin, 狗腿 is often used playfully, as in 你很狗腿耶 nǐ hěn gǒutuǐ ye, "you're such a suck-up". And look out for the 旺旺 brand of rice crackers: Want Want started out in Taiwan, and its name is the same lucky pun.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Dog years? 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 and 2042. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Dog? From 3 February 2030 to 22 January 2031.
I was born on 10 February 2018. Am I a Dog? No, you're a Rooster. The Dog year started on 16 February 2018.
What element is my Dog year? Wood (1934, 1994), Fire (1946, 2006), Earth (1958, 2018), Metal (1970, 2030) or Water (1982, 2042).
What are the Dog's lucky numbers? 3, 4 and 9, and numbers containing them. 1, 6 and 7 are seen as unlucky.
What are the Dog's lucky colours? Red, green and purple. Blue, white and gold are best avoided.
Who is the Dog most compatible with? The Rabbit (secret friends), the Tiger and the Horse (the same trio).
Which sign clashes with the Dog? The Dragon, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.
How do you say "I'm a Dog" in Chinese? 我属狗 wǒ shǔ gǒu.
Is it rude to call someone a dog in Chinese? It depends. 属狗 (born in a Dog year) is neutral, and 单身狗 is friendly self-mockery. But calling a person 狗 directly, or using 狗腿, is an insult.