Dog
Loyal, honest and fair-minded, the Dog is a dependable presence whose deep sense of justice sits beside a habit of worry.
The Dog's lucky charms
- Colours
- yellow
- purple
- red
- Numbers 3 · 4 · 9
- Flowers cymbidium, rose
The Dog's personality
People born under the Dog are loyal, honest and reliable, with a strong sense of justice. They are sincere and upright, and they say what they mean and stand by it. Those close to them can count on their word.
The other side of that seriousness is worry. Dogs are anxious and pessimistic, and they often expect the worst before it arrives. That habit can harden into caution, distrust and even a cynical streak, especially when they feel the world falls short of their standards.
At their best, they tend to be affectionate, empathetic and family-oriented, protective and helpful toward the people they care about. They are often courageous when it counts, observant, practical and responsible, with an easygoing side and a benevolent nature. Their sense of duty and fairness tends to suit them to work such as civil service, healthcare or law, where integrity matters most.
Strengths
- loyal (Confirmed by 5 independent sources)
- honest (Confirmed by 4 independent sources)
- reliable (Confirmed by 4 independent sources)
- sense of justice (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- upright (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- benevolent (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- courageous (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- family-oriented (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- observant (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- practical (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- responsible (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- steady (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- team player (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- vigilant (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Weaknesses
- anxious (Confirmed by 4 independent sources)
- pessimistic (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- cynical (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- distrustful (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Other traits
- justice-minded (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- sincere (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- affectionate (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- cautious (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- easygoing (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- empathetic (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- helpful (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- integrity (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- protective (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- selfless (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- trustworthy (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Careers
- civil servant (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- healthcare (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- lawyer (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
The dots show how many independent sources agree on the trait, up to five.
The Dog's pairings
Best matches
Handle with care
Neutral pairings: Rat, Snake, Monkey, and Pig.
By the year's element
The element of the birth year shades the sign. Only traits several sources agree on are shown.
Wood Dog
sociable
Fire Dog
charismatic, energetic, warm
Earth Dog
patient, pragmatic, reliable, stable
Water Dog
intuitive, sensitive
The sign in detail
- Earthly branch
- 戌 xu
- Polarity
- Yang
- Branch element
- Earth
- Fixed element
- Metal
- Place in the cycle
- 11 of 12
The Dog in questions
Dog: what is its earthly branch?
The Dog is the branch 戌 (xu), number 11 of 12 in the cycle, of Yang polarity.
Dog: what is its element?
Two traditions coexist: its branch element is Earth; the fixed element of popular horoscopes is Metal.
What are the strengths of the Dog?
According to several agreeing sources: loyal, honest, reliable, sense of justice, and upright.
What are the weaknesses of the Dog?
According to several agreeing sources: anxious, pessimistic, cynical, and distrustful.
Dog: which signs are favourable to it?
In the classical tradition: Tiger, Rabbit, and Horse.
Dog: which signs are unfavourable to it?
In the classical tradition: Ox, Dragon, Goat, and Rooster.
What are the lucky charms of the Dog?
Colours: yellow, purple, and red. Flowers: cymbidium and rose. Numbers: 3, 4, and 9.
This profile rests on the Chinese tradition. The affinities between signs, yin and yang and the elements follow the classical treatises of Chinese astrology; a character trait, lucky charm or career is kept only when at least two independent sources confirm it.