year of the Dog

The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao in Chinese, is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. According to the Chinese zodiac, your birth year tells you more than just the age. People who born under each sign are said to exhibit sets of personality traits unique to that sign, and somewhat associated with the animal itself.

These animal signs in order are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Chinese people believe that the years represented by the animals affect the characters of people in the same manner...