Chinese Year of the Dog: Fortune, Personality, Traits & Horoscope (2025)

What Does the Year of the Dog Mean?Year of the Dog Years (Chinese Calendar)Personality Traits and CharacteristicsYear of the Dog Compatibility (Best Matches, Clashes, and Nuance)Five Elements of the DogLucky Guide for Dog NativesYear of the Dog 2025 Horoscope (In a Snake Year)

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Chinese Year with Deluxe Astrology

In Chinese astrology, the Year of the Dog is the 11th zodiac animal and stands for loyalty, justice, and protection. 2025 is a Snake year (from January 29, 2025 to February 16, 2026), so Dog natives read their 2025 horoscope for guidance during a Snake cycle rather than a Dog year. The next Dog year is February 3, 2030 – January 22, 2031 (the Metal Dog).

What Does the Year of the Dog Mean?

In the Chinese zodiac, Dog energy describes a person who is loyal, honest, protective, and dedicated. People born in a Dog birth year value a strong sense of right and wrong, defend loved ones and family members, and prefer stable, trusting relationships. In daily life, Dog natives tend to be hardworking, wise, and quietly courageous.

In Chinese culture, a classic origin story says the Jade Emperor held a “celestial race” to decide the order of the twelve animals. The Dog arrived 11th—steady and dependable. (Fun note: despite its symbolism in other cultures, the elephant is not one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.)

Year of the Dog Years (Chinese Calendar)

If you were born between the Lunar New Year start and end date below, you’re a Dog. (Lunar New Year falls in January or February, so check the boundary if your birthday is close.)

Dog Year

Lunar Year Start Date

Lunar Year End Date

Element

1922

January 28, 1922

February 15, 1923

Water

1934

February 14, 1934

February 3, 1935

Wood

1946

February 2, 1946

January 21, 1947

Fire

1958

February 18, 1958

February 7, 1959

Earth

1970

February 6, 1970

January 26, 1971

Metal

1982

January 25, 1982

February 12, 1983

Water

1994

February 10, 1994

January 30, 1995

Wood

2006

January 29, 2006

February 17, 2007

Fire

2018

February 16, 2018

February 4, 2019

Earth

2030

February 3, 2030

January 22, 2031

Metal

Example: Michael Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an Earth Dog.

Personality Traits and Characteristics

Strengths

Loyalty & dedication: Shows up for friends, partners, and team goals. Protective & wise: A steady guardian with clear ethics. Hardworking & dependable: Follows through on detail and duty.