Rat and Dog
Rat and Dog are a workable match in the Chinese zodiac; their fixed elements are Water and Earth. The nominal compatibility score is 74%. Below is how it's arrived at under the traditional rules and what it means in practice.
How compatible they are
The signs stand two or three positions apart: they share no triangle, but they aren't opposed either. Tradition classes such pairs as calm, with no strong attraction and no built-in conflict.
What each brings to the pair: the Rat, resourcefulness, thrift and the ability to wriggle out of any situation; 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 Rat makes connections easily but truly opens up to only a few. The Dog bonds for the long haul and tests the partner's decency.
The Rat wants recognition for their efforts and a partner who knows how to handle money; the Dog, honesty and the certainty that they won't be deceived.
In marriage and at home
The Rat counts the money and stocks up in advance — that's what keeps the shared budget afloat. The Dog runs the household conscientiously and without show.
In friendship and at work this pair is usually calmer than in marriage: at work the job sets the boundaries, while at home they have to be talked through.
The pair's weak spots
In a conflict, the Rat fusses and nitpicks when anxious. The Dog worries and suspects where there's no reason to.
The main risk is steady indifference: a pair like this is held together by agreements, not attraction.
Advice for the pair
- The Rat should stop judging the partner by how they spend money.
- The Dog should voice their fears before they turn into accusations.
- For both: don't mistake calm for indifference; this pair benefits from coming up with shared projects.