Year of the Dog
The dog (狗, gǒu) is the eleventh animal in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle. Recent dog years include 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018; the most recent ran from Feb 16, 2018 to Feb 4, 2019, and the next begins on Feb 3, 2030. A dog year opens on Chinese New Year in January or February, never on January 1.
Exact dog year dates
Each dog year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next Chinese New Year.
| dog year | Gregorian date range |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Feb 2, 1946 – Jan 21, 1947 |
| 1958 | Feb 18, 1958 – Feb 7, 1959 |
| 1970 | Feb 6, 1970 – Jan 26, 1971 |
| 1982 | Jan 25, 1982 – Feb 12, 1983 |
| 1994 | Feb 10, 1994 – Jan 30, 1995 |
| 2006 | Jan 29, 2006 – Feb 17, 2007 |
| 2018 | Feb 16, 2018 – Feb 4, 2019 |
Born in January or February? Check the boundary
The 2018 dog year did not begin until Feb 16, 2018: anyone born between January 1, 2018 and Feb 15, 2018 is a rooster, not a dog. The dog year also ran past New Year's Day 2019 — babies born between January 1, 2019 and Feb 4, 2019 are still dogs rather than pigs. For January or early-February birthdays, check the exact Chinese New Year dates in the table above.
This site uses the Chinese New Year boundary convention — read how the zodiac year boundary works on the calculator page.
Am I a dog?
Enter your full birth date and the calculator will apply the exact Chinese New Year boundary for your birth year.
Check my zodiac animalThe dog in Chinese culture
The dog's defining virtue in Chinese culture is loyalty. Dogs guarded homes and farms, and the classical phrase 犬马之劳 ("the labor of a dog or horse") was the standard humble offer of faithful service to a lord. Mythology gives the dog a celestial form too: 哮天犬, the Howling Celestial Dog, is the divine hound that fights beside the god Erlang Shen.
Honesty requires noting that the dog's image in idioms is mixed: many phrases use 狗 for servility or desperation, a legacy of the animal's lowly social position alongside its honored loyalty. People born in dog years are traditionally described as loyal, honest and protective — these are cultural beliefs about the sign, not facts about any individual.
Dog idioms (成语) featuring 狗
犬马之劳 quǎn mǎ zhī láo
Literally: the labor of a dog or horse.
one's humble, loyal service; the classical way of offering devoted help.
鸡犬升天 jī quǎn shēng tiān
Literally: chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
from the saying 一人得道,鸡犬升天 — when one man attains the Way, even his poultry rise; now used satirically for people who rise on a powerful connection's coattails.
狗急跳墙 gǒu jí tiào qiáng
Literally: a cornered dog jumps the wall.
desperation drives even the meek to reckless action.
Year of the Dog FAQ
Was 2018 the year of the dog?
Yes, from Feb 16, 2018. The dog year ran from Feb 16, 2018 to Feb 4, 2019. Anyone born in January or early February 2018, before Chinese New Year, is a rooster rather than a dog.
I was born in February 2018 — am I a dog or a rooster?
It depends on the day. Chinese New Year 2018 fell on Feb 16, 2018: born on or after it you are a dog, born between February 1 and Feb 15, 2018 you are a rooster. The calculator on this site applies the exact boundary for you.
When is the next year of the dog?
The next dog year is 2030, beginning on Chinese New Year, Feb 3, 2030, and running until Jan 22, 2031. Dog years repeat every 12 years: 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018.
What does the dog represent in Chinese culture?
Loyalty and guardianship above all. Dogs watched over homes, the phrase 犬马之劳 expresses devoted service, and the divine hound 哮天犬 fights beside the god Erlang Shen in mythology. Some idioms use the dog less kindly, a mix that reflects the animal's long, close history with people.