The friendly, honest and highly emphatic Dog – the born loyal person

"Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy."

Dean Koontz

Reliable and trustworthy, you can always count on a Dog to be there when you need help and support, because such a generous and soft-hearted individual would never let someone down, no matter what. Even if you asked him for the moon, he would leave no stone unturned and move heaven and earth just to bring it to you. People born under this sign are among the most unselfish in the Chinese 'menagerie', thinking about the wellbeing of those they care for first and only afterwards about their own. In fact, just to be clear, we should appreciate and admire the kind Dog because the simple act of helping an old man cross the street or giving the right directions to a stranger just arrived in town make him feel better about himself.

Though not very social and not exactly the conversational type, Dogs are by all means the best friends, life partners and family men 'money can buy'. Indeed, not very talkative or convivial when you first meet them, Dogs turn out to be very good listeners, mates and confidants once you get to know them better. They are a delightful company and very interesting discussion partners, though they do not quite feel at ease when in large groups of people or at social events. Unlike the hectic Tigers or Horses who live their lives at maximum speed in a frantic rhythm, Dogs prefer spending a quiet night at home watching TV, reading a book or chatting with a friend in front of the fireplace to painting the town red and partying till dawn.

Such individuals will never tell you that they are too busy taking care of their own business and problems when you resort to them to help you in a certain matter. Just make a test: call a person born in the year of the Dog - even if not your best friend, but a mere acquaintance- and tell him that you are having a really hard time with something or that you experience grief or depression. In case he hasn't already found out about your state - these people are also blessed with a razor-sharp intuition -, the next moment you had the conversation he will be anxiously pressing your door bell because he wants to stand by you and help you get over this difficult moment in your life.

Very devoted, warm-natured and dependable, people born under this sign are tailored since birth to bolster, offer assistance and comfort the others. Looking for a shoulder to cry on, for someone to raise your spirits and present the world in pinker shades to you? Dogs are the companions anyone prays for in their dreams, tender and protective, loyal and altruistic, compassionate and affectionate. Moreover, people born in the year of the Dog are modest, despise boasting and bragging, and are possessors of a unique and untouchable moral integrity. They never lie and never deceive, they face up things and look truth right in its face, always admit their mistakes and are willing to do everything it takes to become better persons.

The downsides of Dogs relate to the fact that they do not have a wide-ranging mind, therefore they are not very flexible and adaptable to any kind of situation. Moreover, they may be sometimes whimsical and moody, finical and critical or let themselves governed by anxiety and panic. These are times when you would better leave them alone to deal with their own fears and problems, as much as you would care about them. There is one thing we should know about individuals born in the year of this loyal animal: even if they are very supportive and compassionate, they do not like it to be bothered when going through difficult times or when in a bad mood. However, if you know how to 'pet' them, they will come around and become the agreeable persons you have always known.

Furthermore, they are more than honest due to their strong sense of justice and fair-play which seems to be inherited from the dashing medieval knights or captains who fought in the name of Good that must always prevail over Evil. Brave and dauntless, though they do not like to show it off, these modest individuals are adepts of the absolute truth and would stand up and fight for a right cause and defend the less fortunate of us for their whole life. Genuine humanitarians, Dogs find no rest in helping the others and they will militate all their life for justice in the world. All their lives they ardently defend their cause of choice and they succeed most of the times in sifting the true from the false because they have all the resources, energy and skills to be triumphant.

Dogs like to keep everything in their lives as plain and simple as possible, not because they could not handle complexity, intricacy and entanglement, but simply because they resent chaos, confusion and unjustified complications. However, do not imagine that people born under this sign are as simple-minded as their unsophisticated life is, because you are going to have a huge surprise when meeting one flesh and bones - Dogs are gifted and talented individuals, very witty and intelligent, imaginative and creative.

Individuals born under the auspices of the Dog in Chinese astrology usually have successful careers and prosperous lives, due to their resourcefulness, brilliant mind, hard as steel ambition and strong sense of duty. They are exemplary employees, always prepared and always willing to achieve more, great team players because they are highly emphatic and appreciative of others' needs. Dynamic and hardworking, these people are capable of accomplishing any task proficiently and very fast, once they set their minds to do something. However, as wonderfully as they may manage as leaders, Dogs are rarely to be seen in positions of power simply because they do not want to get there.

Unlike the Dragon, the Rat or the Rooster, people born in the year of this witty and playful domestic animal will not strive all their lives to climb up the social ladder to the top, to attain fame and wealth. Being in the public eye and increasing their material gains are not at all important for them, as long as they haven't reached emotional balance through domestic love and generally happy and fulfilling relationships. For these individuals who value tradition and family above all, personal relationships are the most important and a general life equilibrium consists in being surrounded by those who care for them and whom they love.

The Dog and Love

Individuals born in the year of the Dog are not too daring or brash when it comes to making friends or to heart affairs. Unlike the outgoing and self-confident Tigers or Rats, people under this sign are rather timid, reserved and not very sociable at first. They prefer taking things slowly and it takes a while until one can win their hearts - but I can guarantee you that it is totally worth it, because once you grow on them it is forever and they are the best companions and/ or life partners you have ever prayed for.

When they like someone, Dogs are shy and will not make any move and show their affection or interest immediately and not until they are totally sure that the person is also into them. Not very self-confident, the pessimist and introvert type who expects nothing out of life and who does not build quixotic dreams never to come true, the Dog is bashful and withdrawn when you first meet him. But as you spend more time with him and you get to know him more deeply, you have no other choice but to fall in love with him, be it as a friend or lover. Why should such a reserved individual who might pass as unnoticed at first have so much to offer, you may ask. Because he is the giver, the nurturer in any kind of relationship, soothing and caring, gentle and affectionate, altruist, protective and supportive, trustworthy and reliable. Have I convinced you yet?

Passionate and endowed with a natural charm and magnetic charisma, a Dog will never lack friends, dates or lovers. However, as much of a heart-vanquisher as he may be, he will never be a trophy man and he will always give a definite and big 'No-No' to adventures and one-night-stands. If you ever fall for a Dog, you must also remember that he never has sex, he only makes love. Because indeed such a soft-hearted and affectionate individual praises the connection between two souls and bodies above the physical act of sex.

You can easily break the heart of these sensitive and emotional people, therefore you must be very careful with them. If you are looking for a mere affair and gambol between the sheets and do not want a serious relationship with them, you should better look for someone else who is more willing to have a no-strings-attached and open relation. A Dog can easily mistake one night of passion for the wonderful and promising beginning of a stable relationship, and he may be very confused and depressed if left at dawn by the adventurous partner who only wanted to seduce and abandon.

Needless to say, Dogs are tailored since birth to take care and help the others and to achieve domestic happiness. The family man par excellence, they value and treasure everything related to tradition and the indivisible social unit which is family. You should consider yourself greatly fortunate to be the father, sibling, life partner or offspring of an individual born in the year of the Dog, because you can always count on them to protect and support you.

Dog info:

Main Years for the Dog: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Metal Dog: February 10, 1910 - January 29, 1911; February 6, 1970 - January 26, 1971

Water Dog: February 7, 1922 - February 14, 1923; February 26, 1982 - February 13, 1983

Wood Dog: February 14, 1934 - February 3, 1935; February 10, 1994 - January 30, 1995

Fire Dog: February 2, 1946 - January 21, 1947

Earth Dog: February 19, 1958 - February 7, 1959

Broad equivalent in the European Zodiac: Pisces

Lucky gemstone: Diamond

Famous people born in the year of the Dog: Andrea Bocelli, Diane Keaton, Dolly Parton, Ethan Hwake, Jose Carreras, Andie MacDowell, Angela Bassett, Kevin Bacon, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, Sharon Stone, Socrates, Tommy Lee Jones etc.

Animals: Horse The horse is a very complex symbol and may be interpreted in various ways, depending on the particular situation in which the animal is seen in the dream. Generally, it is a posit...   FULL ARTICLE   > ARCHIVE > Send to a friend > Comments >

Elder November 25 - December 22 - "Moon of Completeness" The symbol of death and rebirth to the Celts, the Elder was also known as the 'Tree of Faeries' or 'Pipe Tree...   FULL ARTICLE   > ARCHIVE > Send to a friend > Comments >

Zircon - The Long-forgotten Beauty of Nature Even though it used to be highly praised during earlier days for its beauty and wide range of hues in which it can be found, the zircon gemstone seems to have been forgo...   FULL ARTICLE   > ARCHIVE > Send to a friend > Comments >