Which years are Year of the Dog?

1934 (Wood Dog, from 14 February 1934); 1946 (Fire Dog, from 2 February 1946); 1958 (Earth Dog, from 18 February 1958); 1970 (Metal Dog, from 6 February 1970); 1982 (Water Dog, from 25 January 1982); 1994 (Wood Dog, from 10 February 1994); 2006 (Fire Dog, from 29 January 2006); 2018 (Earth Dog, from 16 February 2018); 2030 (Metal Dog, from 3 February 2030); 2042 (Water Dog, from 22 January 2042). The year starts at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January.

When is the next Year of the Dog?

2030, the Metal Dog, starting 3 February 2030.

Cathay Ink › Chinese zodiac › Year of the Dog

Year of the Dog

Loyal, fair and protective. The Dog keeps its word and its friends, and has a strong sense of what is right.

The Dog is the eleventh of the twelve animals, paired with the earthly branch 戌 and the hours 7 – 9 pm. The next Year of the Dog is 2030, a Metal Dog year, from 3 February 2030.

Check my birthday

Years of the Dog

Each year starts at Chinese New Year, so a January birthday usually belongs to the previous animal.

1934Wood Dog, from 14 February 1934
1946Fire Dog, from 2 February 1946
1958Earth Dog, from 18 February 1958
1970Metal Dog, from 6 February 1970
1982Water Dog, from 25 January 1982
1994Wood Dog, from 10 February 1994
2006Fire Dog, from 29 January 2006
2018Earth Dog, from 16 February 2018
2030Metal Dog, from 3 February 2030
2042Water Dog, from 22 January 2042

Born in one of these years? Enter the exact date to confirm the animal and see your lunar birthday.

The Dog in Chinese culture

Character

Loyal, fair and protective. The Dog keeps its word and its friends, and has a strong sense of what is right.

Closest companions in the cycle: the Tiger and the Horse, the two animals that share the Dog's trine. Its secret friend is the Rabbit.

A story

Dogs guard the home in both the real and the spirit world; stone and paper dogs stand at old gates.

Element changes the flavour of each Dog year. Metal 金: resolve and clarity: the edge of a blade, the ring of a bell. Wood 木: growth and flexibility: spring, bamboo, new shoots. Water 水: adaptability and depth: rivers finding their way. Fire 火: warmth and drive: summer, lanterns, the hearth. Earth 土: steadiness and care: harvest, soil, the centre.

Your Dog in ink

A poster with the Dog above, your name and lunar birthday below, and your Chinese name as a round seal.

Make the poster

Enter your birthday and we set the poster: the animal in ink wash, the year's element, the date in the lunar calendar, your name. Full-resolution download, printable at A3.

Start with my birthday

Want a Chinese name on the seal? Find one first: three real names with every character explained, free.

Previous animal: Rooster 鸡. Next: Pig 猪.