Aries dogs: personality, quirks and how to love them

An Aries dog is born between 21 March and 19 April, under the fire sign ruled by Mars, and they have one setting: go. Aries dogs are first through every door, first to the ball and first to say hello to anything new, usually before you've finished deciding whether it's a good idea.

Aries opens the zodiac, and an Aries dog seems to know it. They don't mind who wins the game, as long as it starts right now.

Aries dog personality

An Aries dog's day is a series of starting pistols.

• The lead jingle sprint. Pick up the lead, or the keys, or just your shoes, and an Aries dog is already at the door, spinning on the spot.
• First through the gap. Open a door a few inches and an Aries squeezes through it before it's fully open, to be first into whatever's on the other side.
• The nose-first hello. A new bin, a strange umbrella, a pile of leaves that wasn't there yesterday: an Aries walks straight up to it and investigates, while other dogs are still deciding.
• The burst and the flop. Ten minutes of full-speed play, then down on the floor in a heap, fast asleep, ready to start again in an hour.

Aries is a cardinal sign: it starts things. An Aries dog's courage is real and cheerful, and they bring it to every corner of the day.

Aries dog quirks and habits

Why does my Aries dog run ahead on every walk?

Because the walk is a race and they intend to lead it. An Aries dog checks the next corner, the next bench and the next lamp post before you arrive, then looks back as if to say you're doing very well, considering.

Why does my Aries dog grab the toy before I've thrown it?

Waiting is the hardest thing in the world for an Aries. The game has clearly started in their head, so they see no reason to let your arm finish the throw first.

Why does my Aries dog bark at the door before the bell rings?

Mars is the planet of action, and an Aries dog likes to get in first. They hear the footsteps on the path, the gate click or the van slowing down, and announce the visitor before the visitor has had a chance to.

Why does my Aries dog shove their nose under my hand?

Subtlety isn't the Aries style. A firm nose flipped up under your hand is the quickest way from "I'd like a stroke" to actually getting one, and an Aries always takes the quickest way.

The tricky bit: all start, no queue

An Aries dog finds waiting almost unbearable. The few seconds it takes to put on your coat are a wild dance at the door, a closed gate gets a run-up and a paw, and a ball held in your hand for dramatic effect earns a short, sharp bark of complaint. It isn't rudeness: an Aries is simply always one step ahead of the plan, and they can't understand why you aren't there yet.

How to make an Aries dog happy

Aries dogs want speed, a challenge and the chance to win.

• Play races they can win. A sprint to the end of the field, a chase round the sofa or a "ready, steady" game with a ball are an Aries dog's favourite sports.
• Start the day with action. A quick game first thing burns off the morning sprint and gets the day off to the start an Aries likes.
• Give them new challenges. A new trick, a new path or an obstacle course of cushions in the hallway keeps an Aries brain as busy as their legs.
• Keep the build-up short. Once you've said "walk", go. An Aries dog's patience is short, and long preambles only wind them up.
• Cheer the brave moments. When they march up to something new, say well done. Aries dogs grow bolder on praise.

Best matches for an Aries dog

Aries dogs pair most naturally with the other fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius, who share their enthusiasm and their love of a good outing. The air signs Gemini and Aquarius suit them too, with a stream of fresh plans and spur-of-the-moment walks.

The honest wild card is Libra, Aries' opposite sign. A Libra owner likes to weigh things up; an Aries dog has already left. Somehow it works: the Aries brings the get-up-and-go, the Libra brings the calm, and the walks are never dull. See how Aries pets pair with every owner sign on the Aries compatibility page.

Thinking of adding a second dog to an Aries household? Pick a good sport. A calm companion who doesn't mind always being second through the door makes the best partner.

Aries dogs and Aries cats: the race and the ambush

An Aries dog wants to race you, and loves that you're in it together. An Aries cat races alone: a sudden sprint down the hallway, a pounce on nothing, then a calm wash as if it never happened. Next door in the zodiac, a Pisces dog drifts along the walk with their nose in the flowers; an Aries dog has already reached the park.