Happy New Year! Today marks the start of the Chinese Year of the Dog. Here at the Ranch, we celebrate dogs all year long but starting today it’ll have extra meaning. 
Even the Post Office got into celebrating which is quite remarkable considering how many dogs tend to be…ahem…less than hospitable with mail deliveries [yeah, I’m talking ’bout you, Sam!]. Look at the beautiful new stamp they created in honor of {wo}man’s best fur-iend.
We know that dogs are loyal, friendly, and kind but did you know that those born under the sign of the dog are said to have some of those same traits? Honest, easygoing, and helpful to others, uprights born under the sign of the dog are less likely to seek money and power and more likely to try to make the world a better place.
A dog’s lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 9, and unlucky numbers are 1, 6, and 7, so keep those in mind when you buy Lotto tickets. Lucky colors are red, green, and purple while blue, white, and gold are unlucky. Those born on the 1st, 6th, 7th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 26th, 28th or the 30th day of the month in the Chinese lunar calendar are said to be the luckiest. Though I’m not very well versed in Chinese horoscopes, the three links here provide a lot of info for those interested and provide the basis of material for this post.
So what’s in store for 2018?
2018 is said to be an unlucky year for people born under the sign of the dog. Thank goodness I’m glad to have been here a while. I have enough bad luck without tempting Chinese astrology. It appears that years that share your birth sign are thought to bring bad luck and recommendations are for dogs to stay calm and try to relax. How do you get a pogo stick to relax for a whole year? Just wondering out loud.
New industrial projects or energy developments for 2018 are predicted to be successful, while endeavors based on greed and individual drive will likely be rejected. Familial relationships will be of significance this year. This could be seen as a year of hope that’s filled with the kind of dialogue that helps cultures achieve solidarity and reject indifference. We can only hope that rings true in 2018.
Got any thoughts on the Year of the Dog? Do you follow horoscopes in general? Not to sound creepy, but what’s your year/sign? For the record, I’m an Ox, something my family has suggested over the years.
On a separate note, our friend Friday is here which means the weekend is just waiting for us. Any plans for ringing in the Chinese New Year?
Live, love, bark❣
Happy “Dog” Year! I am thrilled to check out the lucky numbers, mine is right among them! Woo!
Pawsome…quick…now go buy a lottery ticket!
Granny is a Dog, Grandpaw an Ox and I’m a Horse, but that’s obvious, isn’t it…MOL 😀 Granny has studied Astrology back in ’86, but stopped the study after a few years. Pawkisses for a Happy Year of the Dog 🙂 <3
What a furbulous combination! 😍
I follow horoscopes the same way I believe in lottery tickets. When they’re lucky for yours truly, I am all about it!
Thankfully, I was born in the year of the horse. Enthusiasm and energy . . yep.
Peace and barks
Giddyup!
I know, right?
Love the commemorative stamp! ☺
The year of the dog sounds good as long as we’re not on the menu. Benji
Certainly not at the Ranch. We DICTATE the menu but would never be on it.
Your fur-iends,
Sam & Elsa 🐾
Very cool year!!! I’m not really into horoscopes but will look at them from time to time.
We aren’t either for the most part. Sometimes they can be a fun diversion though.
I was born in the year of the pig. Hmmmm….should I go wallow?
Hahaha! I heard pigs are chivalrous, optimistic and frank and make wonderful friends. That’s definitely the case with you! And I say only wallow in happiness and love in this life. 😍
Cockadoodledoo! Rooster here.
Woo-hoo. I hear you guys are punctual, honest, bright and warm-hearted. Sounds about right.
Happy Chinese New Year! Hubby is a rabbit and I’m a dragon! We’re going to see Black Panther!
I LOVE it! Have fun at the film and let me know how it is. I’ve heard some great reviews.
Happy Chinese New Year! My husband’s culture is Chinese so we usually go to a few New Year festivities but this year we are going to enjoy the dogs and cats and have a quiet weekend! We are excited that it is the year of the dog 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
P.S. Our humom is a tiger and our hudad is a pig!
How cool for you. I love multicultural families-life is always so interesting and rich in life experience. 🤩
I’m the Year of the Snake … but cheers to this one being perfect for you. FYI … I invite you to stop by tomorrow.
Ahh…intuitive, with wisdom and intelligence. I can definitely see that!
I was born in a year of the snake? LOVELY! Seems to me that the year of the dog would be good for everyone (except mail carriers) 😉
The snake is one of the most intuitive of the signs and is known for its intelligence and wisdom. Sounds like you’re in a very special group. 🐍😇
No plans for this weekend. Busy enough the last ten days to last me for the remainder of this month. Nice, quiet, peaceful weekend, me, Benji, Beach, not fussed what we decide just as long as everything is peaceful.
Here’s wishing you a peaceful and beauty weekend with your 4-legged fur-iend. ☮️
Looks as if I’m a sheep. Now I’ve got to go look that up, lol. Fun post, thank you.
Yay…we ❤️ sheep! I thought it was quite interesting.
What cool stamps!
I know, I picked up a whole book and will save for special correspondence. 💌
Happy Year of the Dog!
3 bum swings! 3 more! 💜
HuMom & I are both Rabbits.
It’s my Gotcha Day on Monday so I think huMom will be very busy getting our anniversary day prepared 😉
Have a wagnificient weekend 💜
Ooh, we love Rabbits! Looking forward to the Gotcha Day celebrations, Olivia. Have a lovely weekend.
Woof woof! Wish I had known about this, as I could have tied it into SCT…
On another note, I am a rabbit… which I already knew. But I prefer the other (Vietnamese?) zodiac which has my birth year as the Year of the Cat… just like the song.
It’s a fascinating hop into astrology, that’s for sure. Cats are cool. As are rabbits.
Remarkable how long astrology has been around with no scientific evidence of any validity. And yes, I check out Ares and Tiger every chance I get…can’t take chances
I do too! 🤩
Actually, the original zodiac signs were a map to different places, the animal signs pointed to different lands. They are no longer valid, of course, as the signs have changed 1 position due to precessio, something many astroligists fail to mention. It just goes to show you hucksters have been around a long time.
It’s all very interesting if not entertaining at times.
I am a sheep – a sheep with plans of counting some this weekend and relaxing and getting some sleep!
Happy 💤 May you see loads of these guys 🐑
I’m a wooden horse. It fits, sort of. As an introvert, I’ve had to teach myself to be outgoing.
In Chinese Taoist thought, Wood attributes are considered to be strength and flexibility, as with bamboo. It is also associated with qualities of warmth, generosity, co-operation and idealism. The Wood person will be expansive, outgoing and socially conscious. The wood element is one that seeks ways to grow and expand. Wood heralds the beginning of life, springtime and buds, sensuality and fecundity. Wood needs moisture to thrive.
In Chinese medicine, wood is associated with negative feelings of anger, positive feelings of optimism, patience, and altruism.
Whoa…you know your stuff, Amy. I should have consulted with you when I was researching this post. 狗 Or as we say in Denver…Happy New Year.
Mr Google makes us all experts, LOL!
😆
I used to follow astrology for fun but don’t much any more. I am also an OX!
See…I KNEW I was in good company! I am woefully ignorant of astrology but it was fun reading about it.
It figures. My peep is a rat.
My sign is the sheep. That may have been true when I was a kid, but it sure hasn’t been true since my 30s!
Not sure if the traits describing the Ox ring true for me either but I’d be happy to rub shoulders with fellow Ox, George Clooney any day. 😍
happy year of the dog! … I think white is always a bad color.. specially if you walk a dog in a white pants ;O))))
White NEVER goes with dogs. Even slobber shows up black on white pants. 😆