Dragon and Dog
Dragon and Dog are an opposing pair in the Chinese zodiac; both signs have Earth as their fixed element. The nominal compatibility score is 42%. Below is how it's arrived at under the traditional rules and what it means in practice.
How compatible they are
The signs stand opposite each other on the circle. This is one of the “six clashes,” the most difficult combination in the Chinese system. Such signs are believed to see life in fundamentally different ways: what seems natural to one seems unacceptable to the other.
What each brings to the pair: the Dragon, ambition, energy and the ability to sweep others along; the Dog, loyalty, fairness and a readiness to protect.
An important caveat: in this horoscope the Chinese year doesn't start on January 1 but on the day of Lichun — February 3, 4 or 5. If you were born in January or early February, check your sign with the calculator, or you may be reading someone else's page.
In love
The Dragon courts with flair and expects to be chosen without hesitation. The Dog bonds for the long haul and tests the partner's decency.
The Dragon wants admiration and freedom from petty supervision; the Dog, honesty and the certainty that they won't be deceived.
In marriage and at home
The Dragon considers housework a trifle and gladly hands it over to the other. The Dog runs the household conscientiously and without show.
Opposing signs get along better at work than in marriage: at work their roles are kept separate, while at home the same differences keep hitting the same spot.
The pair's weak spots
In a conflict, the Dragon won't admit mistakes and goes on the offensive instead of explaining. The Dog worries and suspects where there's no reason to.
The main risk is mutual misunderstanding on the fundamental questions, not on the small stuff.
Advice for the pair
- The Dragon should learn to say “I was wrong” without adding a “but.”
- The Dog should voice their fears before they turn into accusations.
- For both: remember that the “six clashes” are not a verdict but a description of difference. Plenty of such couples live together for decades; they just have to explain themselves more often.