Dog zodiac signs: what your dog's star sign says about them

Dog zodiac signs work exactly like yours: your dog's sign is the Sun sign of their birthday, so a dog born on 1 August is a Leo and a dog born on 1 November is a Scorpio. Look up the date below (or use the calculator further down the page), then meet your dog's sign and the habit that usually gives it away.

Astrology is for fun here, not science. It won't tell you why your dog does anything, but it's a great excuse to watch them closely. Read the twelve lines below and see which one sounds most like the dog on your sofa.

How to find your dog's zodiac sign

You only need one date.

• You know the birthday. Find it in the table below. Puppies from a breeder usually have it on their paperwork.
• The shelter gave an estimate. Use it if it feels right, or switch to the next option.
• You have no birthday at all. Use their arrival day, the day they came home. ZodiaPaws reads it the same way and frames the reading around that first day together.

A dog born right on the edge of two signs (say 22 or 23 July) belongs to the sign whose dates include the day. The calculator on this page settles it in one click.

The twelve dog zodiac signs at a glance

Dog astrology by element

Each sign belongs to one of four elements, and the element is the quickest way to read a dog you've only just met.

Fire dogs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

First out of the door and last to leave the park. A fire dog's day is a string of starts: the lead comes off the hook, the doorbell rings, a stick appears. They bounce back from a disappointment before you've finished saying sorry.

Earth dogs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

The timekeepers. An earth dog knows the walk is due before your phone does and will wait at the door, very politely, until you notice. They love the same route, the same bowl and the same corner of the sofa.

Air dogs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

The networkers. An air dog wants to meet the dog across the street, the delivery driver and the person on the next bench, ideally in that order. A walk without a new friend feels unfinished.

Water dogs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

The mood readers. A water dog notices you're tired before you've put your bag down, and is pressed against your feet by the time you sit. Their loyalty is quiet and complete.

What a dog's sign can (and can't) tell you

Breed decides a lot: a Border Collie herds and a Beagle follows their nose whatever their birthday. The sign is the flavour on top. Two spaniels can both adore water, but the Aries one launches in at full speed while the Pisces one stands at the edge watching the ripples first.

That's how a ZodiaPaws reading works too: it blends your dog's breed instincts with their sign, so the result sounds like your dog rather than a generic dog horoscope. Living with a cat as well? The cat zodiac signs work very differently. And to see how your own sign fits with your dog's, try pet zodiac compatibility.