The Dutiful Dog

Dog personalities are honest, faithful, and sincere. They enjoy helping others. They can easily make friends, usually long-lasting. They are intelligent and are usually good listeners.

The Dog is a steady worker who becomes a trusted and valued member of any community. They are defensive where friends and family are concerned and refuse to listen to warnings when others are in danger. When truly frightened, Dogs react unpredictably. Their rare displays of intense anger is usually justified however. They easily forgive and forget. Dogs are usually very active and like all types of outdoor sports. Although they are very generous and loyal, they often have romantic difficulties throughout their lifetimes unless their partner is very understanding and patient.

In Chinese astrology, the Dog and the Pig form the "House of Family". The Dog, being traditionally a protector and guardian of property, represents the materials and wealth of the home, rather than the people within it.

Personality

Among the animal zodiac, Dog individuals are the most humanitarian. To the Chinese, Dogs represent justice and equality. These are the givers in life, prepared to sacrifice their own dreams, ambitions and desires for the sake of others, particularly for those they love. Fiercely loyal to those they love, Dogs are ever ready to jump to the defense of any member of their family or friends who is being attacked by either word or deed. They have a penchant for championing the underdog. Born with an innate sense of decency and a need for equilibrium in a chaotic world, Dogs strongly denounce injustice and wrongdoing, generously giving useful and effective advice to those around them. Their warmth, empathy and genuine interest in others win them many close friendships. Dogs inspire confidence in others, and the confidence is justified. They will always do their utmost for others, and their dedication can go to the point of sacrifice. Dog people deserve to be held in the highest esteem.

The Dog makes a faithful, honest and courageous friend, and has a deep sense of justice. These people tend to be both magnanimous and prosperous, yet they can also be dogged, guarded, and defensive. Because they genuinely feel they know best, they can sometimes appear bossy. They accomplish goals quickly, their successes the result of hard work and intelligence. But the Dog never really relaxes. Despite appearing calm and at rest, their hearts and minds are always jumping.

Dogs are introverts who rarely shows their feelings; when they do it's only because they think it is absolutely necessary. They are stubborn in the extreme and knows what they want. Frequently cynical, they are feared for their sharp tongue and their acid and disagreeable remarks. They give the impression of looking systematically for faults in everything they touch. This is because they are the world's biggest pessimist and expects nothing out of life.

With their forthright honesty and true moral integrity they soon become pillars of society, respected for their views and trusted by all who come to know them. Because they have the knack of gaining backing from important people, their careers are often brilliant. Dogs find it difficult to adapt to change, perhaps because they have a reputation for being innately pessimistic and expect the worst to happen. They have a tendency to become wistful and nostalgic about the past. Of all the animals in the Chinese Zodiac, Dogs are the least materialistic for they are unselfish individuals who care more about people than they do about money or success. It doesn't worry them to be without the material comforts. Even if they are in the money, their tastes are simple enough. But if by any chance they should suddenly and urgently need money, nobody is better equipped than them to get it!

The loyal Dog makes a splendid captain of industry, an active trade union leader, a priest, or an educator. But whatever their career, it will have in them a spokesperson whose ideas will be profound and often original. Nations would do well to follow such champions, for under no other sign do we find united in the same person such uprightness, rectitude and passion for work allied to so little personal ambition.

The three phases of the life of the Dog are all marred by uncertainty: anxious childhood, difficult youth, middle-age defeatist before the work is to be done, and an old-age full of regrets for not having done enough.

It is said that a Dog born in daytime will be calmer and less anxious than one born during the night. It is at night that the dog's job is to guard the house -- and thus they will be eternally on the lookout, always on the alert, barking all the time to scare away intruders and finding no time to rest. For people born at night under this sign, it's a dog's life!

The Loving Dog

Though Dogs have a reputation for not easily entrusting their affections, when they do, those friendships are for life. Romantically, Dogs gives the impression of being cold fish but this appearance is misleading; it's just that they're anxious and doubt their own feelings as they do those of others. In fact, personal relationships for the Dog are the most essential and important components of his life; money, power, success -- all the elements that might motivate members of other signs -- simply don't mean a thing to Dogs without first having a loving partner by their side and a stable family and home life. Some born under this influence may encounter difficulties in finding a lifelong mate primarily because of the importance they attach to their relationships, but also because of anxiety related to mistrust of people they don't know. In love, the most salient characteristic of Dogs is their loyalty. Once these people have pledged their allegiance or sworn their marriage vows, they will stick to their partners through thick and thin.

Relationships

The Dog can be happy with the Horse who will let them get on with their causes in exchange for a little independence. With the Tiger, life becomes a battle -- the two of them against the rest of the world. United, they will adventure together in the name of truth and justice. But it is with the placid and serene Rabbit that the Dog has the biggest chance of finding peace and quiet if they want it. The Dog also likes the Snake, but they are in frequent conflict with the Dragon, who is too proud to accept the Dog's caustic comments and critical approach. As for the Ram, the Dog has no time for their whims, selfishness, or superficiality.