This may be the most likable sign of all in the Chinese cycle. A person born in the year of the Dog is honest, intelligent and straightforward. He has a deep sense of loyalty and a passion for justice and fair play. A Dog native is usually animated and attractive and will exude sex appeal. Generally amiable and unpretentious, he will know how to get along with others as he is not too demanding. The egalitarian Dog likes to meet others halfway, is always willing to listen to reason and can be counted on to do his share.

If you have a forthright Dog for a friend, you must know that when you are in trouble, all you have to do is dial D-O-G. For no matter how much he or she complains, scolds or feigns indifference, the Dog person cannot ignore a real call for help. At times, the Dog protects the interests of others more avidly than his own. If anyone will bail you out ten times out of ten, he must be a Dog. The Dog-born sometimes sticks to the object of his affection no matter how unworthy the person is. You don't find a Dog leaving home just because he discovers that his master has the proverbial feet of clay. He makes allowances for such frailties and he will probably stick it out through thick and thin. And if he does leave home, well, don't blame him, it must be a truly dismal place indeed! The Dog does not desert easily.

Like his equally humanitarian friend, the Tiger, the Dog seldom directs his wrath at someone personally. He will take you to task over one specific act or offense without hating you entirely or forever. His anger is more of a bright flash. It could come without warning and may die as quickly, too. But it will always be a justifiable kind of anger--without malice, without rancor and without jealousy. When all is said and done and proper reparations have been made, he can bury the hatchet.

Not all Dogs look for fights. It would be more just to say that the Dog person is an open-eyed and open-minded observer, with the objective of preserving social goals and guarding the interest of the public at large.

Once in a while, when the Dog decides to take up a cause he thinks is right, he will emerge victorious. Fortunately, he is not one to champion bad causes because his ideals and morals will be of the highest order. As the symbol of justice, the Dog person is very serious about his self-imposed responsibilities.

Collectively speaking, the Dog is not materialistic and ceremonious; he prefers plain talk. He usually sees through people's motives anyway, so fancy language just affects him the wrong way. He is a natural lawyer and will listen to your case objectively. But don't pry into his affairs as he will become secretive and withdrawn. The Dog was born with his defense shields up. You will have to gain his confidence gradually and wait for him to open up.

The Dog is reputed to be cynical, but this is a callous generalization. Actually, it is more fitting to say that puppies are universally lovable and irresistible, young dogs are frisky and full of life and only mature or old dogs earn the right to be the diehard cynics of the Oriental zodiac. Staunch public defenders and members of the Old Guard must indeed belong to the elite Dog unit, getting bleary-eyed with disillusionment as the years go by but remaining ever faithful in rallying to the bugle's call. Raving with disgust at how low our morals have sunk, the Dog will still be found pitting his strength against the forces of evil and answering every S.O.S. that comes his way.

Even as young pups, the Dog will be able to spot the good guys and the bad guys. He'll want to be one of the good guys, of course. She will be Joan of Arc and he will be Sir Galahad.

The Dog, whether he admits it or not, will have an inborn need to divide people into fixed categories. To him, you are either a friend or foe; black or white. No mousey grays or other shades of in-between. He has to know how to classify you before he can relax in your company. His decision to trust or not to trust you is often a final one. And if he does suspect you, well, he may not be rude enough to come right out and accuse you without the evidence, but you can be sure he will be watching you from the corner of his eye. However, even snarling, barking, mad dogs have a good idea of how the legal system works and won't come after you without that warrant. But when he's onto your scent and picks up your tracks, it will be difficult to shake

him off.

On the whole, the Dog is only violent when stirred or attacked on his home ground. He will work hard when he has to or wants to; otherwise, he has a certain "lie by the fire" kind of laziness. Yet, while he is tolerant of and acquiesent to his friends, he can be critical of and emotionally cold to people he dislikes. Practical, fearless and the owner of one very sharp tongue, the Dog person is ultra-realistic and outspoken. He will make a good judge as he spares no one, not even himself, in the final analysis.

Like the late Chou En-lai, who was born in the year of the Dog, the native of this sign will be loved for his warm charisma and superb insight into human nature. With his astute intelligence and noble character, he makes a good but sometimes reluctant leader. People trust him and hold him in high esteem because of his sense of duty and discretion. The Dog's leadership is unemotional, although altruistic. But he is also prone to bouts of erratic and cantankerous behavior. This may be because he is really an introvert at heart and hates all that pretense on the social scene.

The Dog-born does not care very much about money, but should he have desperate need for it, no one is better equipped to find it. In many cases, he will be born into a good family; if not, he will elevate his status in life by himself without shunning his family or hiding his humble origins.

Even while he puts on a bright and cheerful appearance, the Dog is by nature a pessimist. He tends to worry unnecessarily and will expect trouble to be lurking in every corner. But there are times when his predictions come true. Anyway, it will be wise to note that Orientals as well as Westerners have the same belief that everyone needs a Dog at home to distinguish friends from foes.

You can trust the Dog to hand you the bad news with the good. With his matter-of-fact ways, he may even be quite good at breaking sad tidings, especially to theatrical and overemotional people. It is not that he will enjoy informing people of disaster (whether or not he led a demonstration last week to protest the matter); it will be because it is against his nature to hedge or delay the inevitable. He is a definite person and he has this necessity to give you a definite answer. As far himself, he will be able to face the facts of life, even if he is young and untried.

When he is right, the Dog can be obstinate and unbending. It is hard to influence the unprejudiced Dog once he makes up his mind. He will cut the opposition's arguments to ribbons with his flawless logic and acid wit. His bad temper and hot criticism can do a lot of damage but he only resorts to this when he is getting nowhere with diplomacy and formal protests. The Dog may be pugnacious and quarrelsome but he will take his fights out to the open and rarely stoops to underhanded; methods in order to win. He excels as a military man, lawyer, teacher, judge, doctor, captain of industry or missionary. He is one person who can carry on revolutionary activities with a pacifist's views.

The lady Dog will be a thoughtful and capable person who will in all situations be a simple dresser, preferring casual and serviceable clothing. She will opt for a loose and flowing hair style that could frame her expressive face quite dramatically. She can become curt, impertinent and impatient when she is crossed, but on the whole she is unaffected and attentive to the needs of others. Cooperative, unprejudiced and a very good sport, she will enjoy dancing, swimming, tennis or any other lively outdoor activity. A real friend to her husband and children, she will allow them enough freedom to express themselves and choose their own futures without being possessive or interfering.

Dog girls have warm, enduring beauty. Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Cher are but a few of the glamorous examples of famous females born under this sign.

Although she exhibits a fairly amiable disposition and has a ready smile for everyone, the Dog lady likes to form friendships slowly. You will have to come over to her house for tea (a good sign of acceptance), then invite her over to try your homemade cupcakes. You must discover each other's qualities leisurely. Compare likes and dislikes. Exchange mutual oaths of loyalty. When her sense of equilibrium is satisfied, you will get the royal stamp of approval. Henceforth, your name is engraved in gold in her little black book under the heading Friend (she has another section for the Enemies), and when you call upon her she will come to your rescue wherever she may be.

The Dog person is never without resources, and even when he does not have direct power, he will wield influence on important or decision-making people through his sound advice and remarkable insight. People do lend him their ears, as he champions moderation in all things. Yet the Dog-born is the first to see the perils of being at the top of the power game and is often criticized for his lack of desire for fame and authority. He keeps his aspirations to himself and is modestly prepared to serve others, if that is his duty, or else be left alone to do whatever pleases him most. Moreover, he is not renowned for his patience and has the tendency to snap at others when irked. He will not go out and fall madly in love like the Horse or Tiger, but he will be deeply attached and affectionate to those he loves.

While it will never be easy for the Dog to trust everyone profoundly, as the Boar does, he does his best to bring out the good in his fellowmen. Once you have gained his allegiance, he will place complete faith in you and give you his undivided support. Try criticizing someone who is dear to the Dog, and you will be in for a very strong rebuttal.

Most people born under this sign are tough, in the sense that they can take a lot of stress without cracking up. The Dog's stable mint makes him a good counselor, priest or psychologist. During times of crisis, he can suffer great hardships and deprivation without complaining. He earnestly wishes that the world were a better place to live in, and he will not be afraid to go out and do something about it. Many saints and martyrs were born under the idealistic sign of the Dog.

A Dog who is born at night is reputed to be more aggressive and high-strung than one born during the day. Dogs of all seasons will be well provided for throughout their lives and have need of little.

The Dog will be most compatible with the Horse, the Rabbit and the Tiger. He will have no conflict with the Rat, Snake, Monkey, Boar or another Dog. The Rooster he will have difficulty understanding. The one he will never really get himself to believe in is the overconfident Dragon. Neither can he find it pleasant to tolerate the constant complaints of the indulgent Sheep. Likewise, the Dragon will be enraged when the Dog pours cold water over his grand designs and the Sheep will call the Dog insensitive.

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THE DOG CHILD

This child will be friendly, happy and well-balanced. Cheerful and harmonious, he expects little of others and can accept his parents and friends as they are. Open, confident and loyal, he will perceive other people's viewpoints with amazing clarity while still maintaining his own convictions and dignity. He will never allow himself to be bullied and in all probability will put up a hefty fight with the neighborhood tyrant and win the respect of his peers.

Sensible and fairly consistent, the Dog will get his schoolwork done without too much trouble. He will be reasonable when asked to help around the house and will be protective toward younger family members.

Playful and outgoing, he will insist on a certain degree of independence. But the faithful Dog will never stray too far from home. This child will be known and liked for his sense of humor, warmth and candid ways. When offended, the Dog child can turn rebellious, mean and hypercritical. His anger flares and subsides relatively quickly and he will return to his normal equilibrium. He will not keep a grudge for long and can forget and forgive readily.

When he is negative, the Dog is pugnacious, argumentative, caustic and unbendingly opinionated. He is only liberal and fair-minded if not pushed too far. When he feels he has been taken undue advantage of, the Dog will retaliate bitterly and without any compassion. Once he starts to fight, the Dog will not be open to discussion or negotiations anymore. It is better never to challenge this tolerant child to the point of no return. The unassuming Dog can erupt like a volcano.

If the Dog child is rejected or unappreciated, he could be lethargic, insensitive, cynical or plain indifferent to the wishes of his parents. Compliment and encourage him and this child will reciprocate lavishly. Basically, he is cooperative, so there should be no need to cajole or threaten him in any way. Efficient and diplomatic, the Dog will exhibit a lack of prejudice, or at least he will make it a point never to show it. He is inclined to avoid scenes rather than create them.

It will be safe to give him responsibilities or take him into your confidence even at an early age. The trustworthy Dog will not like to be accused of having a loose tongue. He will guard a secret like a sacred trust.

To sum it up, the Dog will always defend what is his. He will have a high sense of values and to him home and family will come first.

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