Canines and the Cosmos: Practical Astrology for Dogs

Sun signs represent the position of the sun at birth, and I was born under the sun sign of Aquarius. Much astrology theory has been written about sun signs and humans, so I thought I would offer a canine interpretation of the sun signs.

The astrological calendar is divided into three fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), three earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), three air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and three water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). The sun sign calendar begins with Aries, which coincides with the Spring Equinox. It makes sense that the calendar would begin with spring and not as in the Roman version that begins on January 1.

Aries: (March 21 – April 19): Symbol is the ram, element is fire. These are the dogs that like to lead the pack, lead the human, run the show. They can be high- energy dogs, charismatic and very reactive. They get bored easily and insist on being first, even downright pushy. An Aries dog doesn’t like to be ignored.

Taurus: (April 20- May 20): Symbol is the bull, element is earth. Dogs that are born under the sign of Taurus like comfort, routine, and aren’t enthusiastic about change. They have a great love of food, in fact they may be dumpster divers or intent on begging whenever there is food around. These dogs seek security to the point of being quite stubborn.

Gemini: (May 21-June 20): Symbol is the twins, element is air. Gemini dogs are friendly but can become easily anxious due to the duality of the sign of the twins: these dogs have two personalities. One is quick, and smart, the other nervous and fearful. Of all the zodiac signs the Gemini dog really likes to learn tricks and have tasks. They also like to dig.

Cancer: (June 21-July 20) Symbol is the crab, element is water. Cancerian dogs are nurturers, and can be shy especially with strangers. They have strong bonds with their human and canine families. These are sensitive dogs so if the humans they live with are in conflict, the dogs will go find a safe space and hide in their “shell”. They may be especially sensitive to scolding, or tone of voice. Cancerian dogs will lend their emotional support when a human or other dog is sick. They can be attached to toys and accumulate or protect their “treasures.”

Leo: (July 21-August 20) Symbol is the lion, element is fire. These are the larger-than-life charismatic dogs: enthusiastic, theatrical, bossy, and controlling. Leo dogs will turn themselves inside out to get your praise. They are the dog pack leaders, and may try to boss the humans as well. They require a certain amount of doting by the humans, and they appreciate being told how handsome or beautiful they are.

Virgo: (August 21-September 21) Symbol is the virgin, element is earth. Virgo dogs are the perfectionists of the zodiac. They do not like to get dirty despite the fact that they are great worker dogs. They are dutiful, and are eager to learn. These dogs need a job. They make great special needs dogs and service dogs. They can be timid and sensitive so they need to be socialized at an early age. They will not jump into a lake or pond without first scrutinizing the situation. They let the Leo dogs and Aries dogs take the first leap.

Libra: (September 22- October 20) Symbol is the scales of balance, element is air. Libra dogs are guided by harmony and love. They love their people, their pack members. In fact this is one sun sign that really needs another dog or pet as companionship is very important to them. These are the dogs that appreciate snuggling time with their human. Libra dogs tend to be well- balanced in their bodies, making them excellent canine athletes in agility and other sports.

Scorpio: (October 21- November 20) Symbol is the scorpion, element is water. These dogs make excellent watchdogs because they are protective. Scorpio dogs tend to be one- person dogs. Scorpio dogs will not think going to the dog park is the highlight of their day. They can be revengeful: chewing your favorite slipper if you haven’t shown them enough attention. These dogs love to ride in the car (just don’t take them to a place they have to be social). They can be both playful, silly, and moody. These dogs need to feel secure and may create their own “hiding place” in the house or yard.

Sagittarius: (November 21- December 20) Symbol is the archer, element is fire. Sagittarius dogs are extremely intelligent and enjoy complicated games and new tricks. Like the other fire sign dogs (Leo and Aries) they are friendly, make new friends easily, not likely to cower when in a crowd or unfamiliar territory. Once they have acquired a habit, it is more challenging to change it. You have to nip a bad habit in the bud, such as using a house rug to pee on. Sagittarius dogs are fun to be around, can keep their humans laughing with their antics. Because of their intelligence, they need to be mentally stimulated.

Capricorn: December 21- January 20) Symbol is the mountain goat, element is earth. Capricorn dogs tend to be calm and thoughtful. They are cautious and dependable. They need to be shown a sense of fun. These dogs are especially suited for living in households with multiple pets because of their “take it or leave it” attitude. These dogs are thinking dogs, they take the time to work things out, to assess. They do not throw caution to the wind.

Aquarius: (January 21- February 20): Symbol is the water bearer, element is
air. Aquarian dogs are enigmatic…unpredictable, quirky, smart, and free- spirited. They are the humanitarians of the zodiac: capable of rescue work or standing by another pack member in distress. They are adventurous with a strong independent streak of marching to their own drummer. They often try to be helpful by moving their human’s shoes from room to room or transporting box turtles in their mouth from one place in the forest to another.

Pisces: (February 21- March 20): Symbol is two fish, element is water. As the last sign of the zodiac, the Pisces dog is the most sensitive dog of the 12 signs. Pisces are not the bravest dogs but are the most loving and intuitive. Pisces dogs are unlikely to roam (leave that to the Aquarian and Leo dogs), and need lots of attention and love. They are the “be-with” dogs: happy to be with you wherever you are. They can be very mellow and need activity to keep them from being total couch potatoes.

Astrology and your pack:
In our pack we have 2 Aquarians (my human and I), 1 Gemini (Thunderbear), 1 Cancer (Wookie), 1 Libra (Crockett), 1 Scorpio (Buckaroo), and our other human, Peter, is a Virgo. Notice the absence of fire in our group…we have four air elements, two water elements and one earth element. What this means is that as a collective we are slightly wacky (air), sensitive (water), and somewhat grounded (earth). Clearly we need another Aussie whose sun sign is a fire element. Of course our human didn’t set out to bring us into her pack based on when we were born, but I did watch her muse over the sun signs of Thunderbear, Crockett and Wookie when the breeder told her the date of the litters. She wasn’t even looking for another dog when she met Buckaroo as a pup. The fact is, she fell in love with him. Which just goes to show you that Scorpio dogs have a bit of magic to them.

Colors and sun signs:
Each sun sign has a color, so if you are looking to enhance the good qualities of your sun sign dog, look for collars and accessories that represent the color of the astrological sign.

Aries: Red, supports Aries’ active nature and eagerness for life

Taurus: Green, connection with earth and nature

Gemini: Yellow, the color of inspiration, and curiosity; this color enhances Gemini’s mental powers and focus

Cancer: White and silver, these are the colors of intuition and sensitivity

Leo: Gold, the color of power and prestige, and optimism

Virgo: Green and brown, representing stability and carefulness

Libra: Airy pink and light blue, bring calm to Libra’s nature and helps clarity and balance

Scorpio: Black, the color of transformation and the ability to see beneath the surface

Sagittarius: Purple, the color of spirituality and awareness; helps to support Sagittarian dogs’ positive nature

Capricorn: Brown and grey represent the practical path and stability.

Aquarius: Blue, helps to balance restless energy

Pisces: Light green, symbolizing healing and rejuvenation.

Astrology cuisine: Feeding the sun signs
• Air sign dogs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) do best with warming foods. Add some water or hot water to your dog’s food to help balance the cool nature of air.
• Water sign dogs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) need cooling foods and do well on raw foods to help dry the wet nature of water.
• Fire sign dogs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) need cooling foods. Avoid hot, salty and fatty foods, which can increase the fire of this sign.
• Earth sign dogs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): need warm, light foods or lightly cooked foods. Should avoid sugary treats, and fatty meats.

Specifics on dates significant to astrology:
The sun moves quickly, so knowing the year your dog was born will tell you precisely which sun sign your dog was born under.

For an easy astrology reference, consult the planetary ephemerides from 1800-2100.

To learn about compatibility of sun signs, such as your sun sign and your dog’s sun sign, see the easy guide to compatibility.

Even if your dog’s sun sign isn’t compatible with your own, it just means you each have something to learn from the other.