Years of the Dog include 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958... A Dog year occurs every 12 years. 2030 is a Metal Dog Year.
The Dog occupies the 11th position in the Chinese zodiac after the Rooster and before the Pig. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to a 12-year cycle.
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Chinese Zodiac Years of the Dog
People born in the following date ranges are believed to be born in a year of the Dog and are called Dogs.
Those born in January or February should take particular note of when Chinese New Year falls to confirm their birth sign. Each Dragon year also has one of five elements associated with it.
You can check the table below or use our "Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign" tool to find your zodiac animal sign.
Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign
Dog Years | Date | Element |
---|---|---|
1934 | February 14, 1934 – February 3, 1935 | Wood Dog |
1946 | February 2, 1946 – January 21, 1947 | Fire Dog |
1958 | February 18, 1958 – February 7, 1959 | Earth Dog |
1970 | February 6, 1970 – January 26, 1971 | Metal (Gold) Dog |
1982 | January 25, 1982 – February 12, 1983 | Water Dog |
1994 | February 10, 1994 – January 30, 1995 | Wood Dog |
2006 | January 29, 2006 – February 17, 2007 | Fire Dog |
2018 | February 16, 2018– February 4, 2019 | Earth Dog |
2030 | February 3, 2030 – January 22, 2031 | Gold Dog |
Dog's Personality

Dogs are loyal and honest, amiable and kind, cautious and prudent. Due to having a strong sense of loyalty and sincerity, Dogs will do everything for the person who they think is most important.
As Dogs are not good at communication, it is difficult for them to convey their thoughts to others. Therefore, Dogs tend to leave others with the impression that they have a stubborn personality.
When thrown into doubt, Dogs think the world is evil and complicated. Then they criticize sharply when making comments, and infer that all things are according to their pessimistic point of view.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold, and Water Dogs
In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. For example, a Wood Dog comes once in a 60-year cycle.
It is theorized that a person's characteristics are decided by their birth year's zodiac animal sign and element. So there are five types of Dog, each with different characteristics.
Type of Dog | Year of Birth | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
Wood Dog | 1934, 1994 | Sincere, reliable, considerate, understanding, and patient |
Fire Dog | 1946, 2006 | Intelligent, hardworking, and sincere |
Earth Dog | 1958, 2018 | Communicative, serious, and responsible in work |
Gold Dog | 1910, 1970 | Conservative, desirable, cautious, and always ready to help others |
Water Dog | 1922, 1982 | Brave and self-centered, even seemingly selfish; well-versed in dealing with financial issues |
See Chinese Zodiac Dogs of 5 Elements: Characters and Destinies.
Lucky Things for People Born in a Year of the Dog

Lucky Things for Dogs:
- Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 9, and numbers containing them (like 34 and 49)
- Lucky days: the 7th and 28th of every Chinese lunar month
- Lucky colors: red, green, and purple
- Lucky flowers: rose, cymbidium orchids
- Lucky directions: east, south, and northeast
- Lucky months: the 6th, 10th, and 12th Chinese lunar months
Unlucky Things for Dogs:
- Unlucky colors: blue, white, gold
- Unlucky numbers: 1, 6, and 7
- Unlucky direction: southeast
- Unlucky months: the 5th and 8th Chinese lunar months
Zodiac Dogs' Love Compatibility

See below for the compatibility of the Dog with other animals, and find out if the Dog is compatible with your sign or not.
Each animal sign has its unique characteristics. Love compatibility within the Chinese zodiac animals works on the principle that only those whose characteristics match have good compatibility. Those who don't match need to put more effort into their relationships.
- Best with: Tiger, Rabbit, Horse, or Monkey
- Worst with: Dragon or Goat
Is she/he compatible with you? Take the test and see...
Dog Horoscope 2023
2023 is a year of the Rabbit. Dogs, your overall horoscope is one of ups and downs, and your luck in health and wealth may continue to decline, which will require more attention in 2023.
You will face some twists and turns in your career fortune. A decline in your career progress will cause you Dog people to feel very frustrated. In response, you need to learn to calm your thoughts and steady the ship.
Due to the decline in your career luck, your income will be unstable. Dogs, you will need to make more effort this year in order to have any possibility of promotion and salary increase.
The love life of you Dog people will show an upward trend, and you may see a lot of romance, which will make your relational life very rich this year.
Read on Monthly Horoscope for Dogs.
Best-Suited Careers for Dogs
Due to their loyal personality, Dogs tend to choose a career based on the principle of serving others. Dogs are seen as valuable employees as they put their heart and soul into their tasks.
They are easygoing and kind, and are always ready to alleviate the workload of others, which makes them very popular in their work circle.
Recommended careers for Dogs include: Police officer, Scientist, Counselor, Interior designer, Professor, Politician, Priest, Nurse, Clerk, and Judge.
Health Tips for Dogs
Overall, Dogs enjoy good health as they tend to be happy all the time. Dogs are active at sports so they are resilient to illnesses, such as colds, coughs, and fever.
In heavy work periods and frequent social activities, they should ensure they get plenty of rest in addition to taking proper exercise, which will benefit both their physical and mental health. Since Dogs are not keen on seeking money and power, they feel less stressed and tense at work and in their home lives.
How to Build Relationships with Dogs
They would rather suffer a loss than make trouble for others, and never go against their hearts to do something immoral.
When making close friends, Dogs will take some time to gain a thorough understanding of their friends, due to their traits of being conservative and cautious. Once they become close friends, Dogs will be faithful to maintain the relationship.
In love relationships, Dogs will not easily fall in love with someone. But once they do, they will be incredibly faithful to maintain the relationship and be loyal to their partner. However, their emotions have ups and downs when dealing with love relationships.
Is a Dog Year a Lucky Year?
According to Chinese astrology, people in the year of their birth sign (本命年, běnmìngnián /bnn-ming-nyen/ ‘origin (of) life year') will offend Tai Sui, the God of Age in Chinese mythology. They are believed to have bad luck in this year.
Therefore, Dogs should be more careful about all aspects of their lives in a year of the Dog. Read more on How to Be Lucky in Your Ben Ming Nian.
Famous Dog Year People
- Donald Trump: born on June 14, 1946, a Fire Dog
- Madonna: born on August 16, 1958, an Earth Dog
- Michael Jackson: born on August 29, 1958, an Earth Dog
- Justin Bieber, born on March 1, 1994, a Wood Dog