Taurus dogs: personality, quirks and how to love them

A Taurus dog is born between 20 April and 20 May, under the earth sign ruled by Venus, and they are the zodiac's steadiest companion. A Taurus dog sets an unhurried pace on walks, keeps the same beloved toy long after it has lost its squeak and leans their full weight against your legs whenever you stop.

Calm is not the same as easy, though. A Taurus dog is gentle and devoted, and also very sure of what they like. Try to change it in a hurry and you'll meet the bull.

Taurus dog personality

A Taurus dog shows their love by staying exactly where they are.

• The lean. Sit down anywhere, on a park bench, the sofa or the floor, and a Taurus dog presses against your legs with a contented sigh.
• The one toy. Out of a whole basket of toys, a Taurus loves one: the old rope, the threadbare rabbit. Offer a new one and they politely carry the old one past it.
• The planted feet. At the end of a good walk, a Taurus dog sits down at the gate and looks at you. They were enjoying that. Why would anyone go home?
• The slow sniff. Where other dogs skim the hedge, a Taurus reads every blade of grass in full before moving on to the next one.

Venus rules Taurus, and with it a love of pleasant, familiar things. A Taurus dog's whole personality is built on the idea that a good thing is worth keeping.

Taurus dog quirks and habits

Why does my Taurus dog carry the same old toy everywhere?

Because it's theirs, and a Taurus is loyal to what's theirs. That battered toy has been on every walk and in every nap, and to a Taurus dog its history makes it better than anything new from the shop.

Why does my Taurus dog refuse to walk any faster?

Taurus is an earth sign that won't be hurried. A Taurus dog has a pace, a comfortable, steady trot, and they see no reason to change it just because you're late. Pull on the lead and they'll stop entirely to think about it.

Why does my Taurus dog lean on me?

Touch matters to a Taurus. Leaning their weight against you is a Taurus dog's version of a hug: warm, solid and a little bit of a claim. If you sit down, expect a lean within thirty seconds.

Why does my Taurus dog circle the bed so many times before lying down?

The bed has to be just right. A Taurus dog digs, turns, rearranges the blanket and turns again until every fold is where they want it. Comfort is serious work.

The tricky bit: they've decided

A Taurus dog's steadiness has a stubborn side. The park gate gets a sit-down protest when it's time to leave. The new bed you bought stays empty while the old one is defended. A route that's been the same for months is the only acceptable route, and a turn the other way earns a long, unmoving look. It isn't disobedience; a Taurus simply knows what they like, and they'd like you to know it too.

How to make a Taurus dog happy

Taurus dogs want comfort, routine and plenty of time with you.

• Keep a steady routine. Walks, playtime and bedtime at roughly the same time every day make a Taurus dog feel that all is well.
• Give them a really good bed. A thick, soft bed in a quiet corner, with a blanket they can arrange, is a Taurus dog's idea of luxury.
• Allow sniffing time. Let a Taurus take the slow walk now and then, stopping wherever they like. To them, that's the best walk there is.
• Introduce new things gently. A new toy left near the old one for a few days is far more likely to be accepted than one swapped in overnight.
• Sit with them. A quiet half-hour on the sofa with a Taurus leaning against you is as good as any game.

Best matches for a Taurus dog

Taurus dogs feel most at home with the other earth signs, Virgo and Capricorn, who share their love of routine and a well-run day. The water signs Cancer and Pisces suit them too, with the cosy, affectionate home a Taurus thrives in.

The honest wild card is Scorpio, Taurus' opposite sign. Both are fixed and both are stubborn, so you'll meet in a standoff at the park gate now and then, but it's also one of the most loyal pairings there is. See how Taurus pets pair with every owner sign on the Taurus compatibility page.

If another dog shares your home, a Taurus will happily share the sofa and the walk, but probably not the old toy. A calm companion with toys of their own keeps the peace.

Famous Taurus dogs

Chaser, the Border Collie who learned the names of 1,022 toys, was born on 28 April 2004: a Taurus. She was trained by the psychologist John Pilley from eight weeks old, a long, steady project of daily practice, which is about as Taurus as learning gets. (Source: Wikipedia)

Taurus dogs and Taurus cats: loyalty and luxury

A Taurus dog shows their love through loyalty: the same toy, the same route, the same heavy lean on your shins. A Taurus cat shows theirs through luxury, choosing the softest blanket and the warmest seat in the house and treading it into shape. Next door in the zodiac, an Aries dog is halfway down the street already; a Taurus dog will get there, in their own good time.