Year of the Dog: what Dog people are like

The Dog is the eleventh animal of the cycle and perhaps the most loyal. People born in the Year of the Dog often have a strong sense of right and wrong and a big, steady heart. If you have a Dog for a friend, you know they'll turn up. (Mochi the Shiba, who minds The Stalls, would like it noted that this is the best year.)

Born in January or early February? Check the Lunar New Year date for your year.

What Dog people are like

Dog people tend to be faithful, fair and caring. They stand up for others and are happiest when the people around them are okay. Your birth year gives a gentle hint, and you decide how much to take from it.

• Loyal. Once a Dog is your friend, they tend to stay your friend.
• Fair. Dogs care about justice and will speak up when something is wrong.
• Honest. They are straightforward and easy to trust.
• Helpful. A Dog is often first to offer a hand with a move, a meal or a hard day.

Caring this much can slide into worrying. A Dog does well to let others look after them too, since loyalty works both ways.

Good company

Tradition puts the Dog in a trio with the Tiger and the Horse. The Tiger shares its sense of fairness and the Horse its warm, open heart. The Rabbit is often called the Dog's secret friend, a gentle companion who helps the watchful Dog relax.

Any animal can be friends with any other. The traditional pairs are just a fun place to start.

A small thing to try this week

Let someone do something kind for you this week and simply say thank you, without rushing to pay it back or saying "oh, you shouldn't have". Dogs give a lot, so receiving can take some practice.

In Slipmatic

Press the button on the Robo-Booth ’84 and it prints a slip on how your Chinese year sits with today. With Slipmatic Plus, a fresh slip for the Dog is waiting every morning.

For entertainment and reflection.