Michael Born in the Year of the Dog

The Dog is the most likable sign of all in the Chinese cycle. Michael is honest, intelligent and straightforward. He has a deep sense of loyalty and a passion for justice and fair play. He is animated and attractive and exudes sex appeal. Generally amiable and unpretentious, he knows how to get along with others as he is not too demanding. Michael likes to meet others half way, is always willing to listen to reason and can be counted on to do his share.

If you are blessed with having Michael as your friend, you know that when you are in trouble, all you have to do is dial D-O-G. For no matter how much he might complain, scold or feign indifference, Michael cannot ignore a real call for help. At times, Michael protects the interests of others more avidly than his own, and if anyone will bail you out ten times out of ten, it must be Michael.

Michael sometimes sticks to the object of his affection no matter how unworthy the person is. You won’t find Michael leaving just because he discovered that his mate has the proverbial feet of clay. He makes allowances for such frailties and he will probably stick it out through thick and thin. And if he does leave, well, he can’t be blamed because it must have been a truly dismal place indeed because Michael does not desert easily.

Michael seldom directs his wrath at someone personally. He will take you to task over one specific act or offense without hating you entirely or forever. His anger is more of a bright flash. It could come without warning and may die as quickly, too. But it is always a justifiable kind of anger - without malice, without rancor and without jealousy. When all is said and done and proper reparations have been made, he can bury the hatchet.

Michael is an open-eyed and open-minded observer with the objective of preserving social goals and guarding the interest of the public at large. But if Michael decides to take up a cause he thinks is right, he will emerge victorious. Fortunately, he is not one to champion bad causes because his ideals and morals are of the highest order. As the symbol of justice, the Dog is very serious about his self-imposed responsibilities.

Michael is not materialistic and ceremonious; he prefers plain talk and can usually see through people’s motives anyway, so fancy language just affects him the wrong way. He is a natural lawyer and will listen to your case objectively. But others should never pry into his affairs as he will become secretive and withdrawn. Michael was born with his defense shields up and people have to gain his confidence gradually and wait for him to open up.

The Dog is reputed to be cynical, but this is a callous generalization. Actually, it is more fitting to say that puppies are universally lovable and irresistible, young dogs are frisky and full of life and only mature or old dogs earn the right to be the diehard cynics of the Oriental zodiac. Saddened by how low our morals have sunk, the Dog still can be found pitting his strength against the forces of evil and answering every S.O.S. that comes his way. Even as young pups, the Dog was able to spot the good guys and the bad guys, and he always wanted to be one of the good guys.

The Dog, whether he admits it or not, will have an inborn need to divide people into fixed categories. To him, you are either a friend or foe; black or white. No mousey grays or other shades of in-between. He has to know how to classify you before he can relax in your company. His decision to trust or not to trust you is often a final one. And if he does suspect you, he may not be rude enough to come right out and accuse you without the evidence, but you can be sure he will be watching you from the corner of his eye. And when he’s onto your scent and picks up your tracks, it will be difficult to shake him off.

On the whole, the Dog is only really riled up when attacked on his home ground. He will work hard when he has to or wants to; otherwise, he has a certain lie by the fire kind of laziness. Yet, while he is tolerant of and acquiescent to his friends, he can be critical of and emotionally cold to people he dislikes. Practical and fearless, Michael is ultra realistic and outspoken. He is a good judge as he spares no one, not even himself, in the final analysis.

Michael is loved for his warm charisma and superb insight into human nature. With his astute intelligence and noble character, he is a good but sometimes reluctant leader. People trust him and hold him in high esteem because of his sense of duty and discretion. Michael’s leadership is unemotional, although altruistic. But he can be prone to bouts of erratic and cantankerous behavior. This may be because he is really an introvert at heart and hates all the pretense of the social scene.

Michael does not care very much about money, but should he have desperate need for it, no one is better equipped to find it. In many cases, he will be born into a good family; if not, he will elevate his status in life by himself without shunning his family or hiding his humble origins. Even while he puts on a bright and cheerful appearance, Michael can tend to be pessimistic. He tends to worry unnecessarily and can expect trouble to be lurking in every corner. But there are times when his predictions come true. Anyway, it will be wise to note that Orientals as well as Westerners have the same belief that everyone needs a Dog at home to distinguish friends from foes.

Michael can be trusted to give bad news with good. With his matter-of-fact ways, he may even be quite good at breaking sad tidings, especially to theatrical or over emotional people. This is because it is against his nature to hedge or delay the inevitable. He is a definite person and he has this necessity to give you a definite answer. As for himself, he is able to face the facts of life, even when he was young.

When he is right, Michael can be obstinate and unbending. It is hard to influence Michael once he’s made up his mind. He can cut the opposition’s arguments to ribbons with his flawless logic and wit. Yet Michael never loses his temper, unless he gets absolutely nowhere with diplomacy and formal protests. If Michael is drawn into a fight, he will take it out into the open and will rarely stoop to underhanded methods in order to win. He would do well as a military man, lawyer, teacher, judge, doctor, captain of industry or missionary. He is one person who can carry on revolutionary activities with a pacifist’s views.

Michael is never without resources, and even when he does not have direct power, he will wield influence on important or decision-making people through his sound advice and remarkable insight. People do lend him their ears, as he champions moderation all things. Yet Michael is the first to see the perils of being at the top of the power game and is often criticized for his lack of desire for fame and authority. He keeps his aspirations to himself and is modestly prepared to serve others, if that is his duty, or else be left alone to do whatever pleases him most.

Michael is not one to go out and fall madly in love but he is deeply attached and affectionate to those he loves. While it will never be easy for Michael to trust everyone profoundly, he does his best to bring out the good in his fellowman. Once you have gained his allegiance, he will place complete faith in you and give you his undivided support. Try criticizing someone dear to Michael and you will be in for a very strong rebuttal. Michael is tough in the sense that he can take a lot of stress without cracking up.

His stable mind makes him a good counselor, priest or psychologist. During times of crisis, he can suffer great hardships and deprivations without complaining. He earnestly wishes that the world were a better place to live in, and he is not afraid to go out and do something about it. Many saints and martyrs were born under the sign of the Dog. Michael is an academic and responsible soul; however he is a worrier and overly concerned with the woes of humanity. Unprejudiced and spiritual, Michael is steady and unworldly. With his excellent mental powers and neutrality, Michael would be a great legal executor.

Michael is full of rapid movement and a multitude of talents. Blessed with star quality, he is an excellent entertainer since he projects a natural and likable image to the public. He is quick to adapt to changes and is easily fired by enthusiasm and excitement. Plus he’s appealing in his modesty and consideration. Where Michael might find conflicts is if he tries to live up to expectations not of his own making.

As a child, Michael was friendly, happy and well-balanced. Cheerful and harmonious, he expected little of others and accepted his parents and friends as they were. Open, confident and loyal, he was able to perceive other people’s viewpoints with amazing clarity while still maintaining his own convictions and dignity. He never allowed himself to be bullied and in all probability put up a hefty fight with any potential tyrants thus winning the respect of his peers.

Sensible and consistent, Michael got his schoolwork done without too much trouble. He was reasonable when asked to help around the house and was protective toward younger family members. Playful and outgoing, he insisted on a certain degree of independence. But he never strayed too far from home. As a child, Michael was known and liked for his sense of humor, warmth and candid ways. When offended, he could turn rebellious, mean and hypercritical. His anger flared and subsided relatively quickly and he would return to normal equilibrium. He did not keep a grudge for long and was able to forgive and forget readily.

When he was negative, Michael could be argumentative, caustic and unbendingly opinionated. He could be liberal and fair-minded if not pushed too far, and when he felt he was being taken undue advantage of, he would retaliate without any compassion. Once he started to fight, Michael would not be open to discussion or negotiations anymore. It was better never to challenge this tolerant child to the point of no return. If Michael felt rejected or unappreciated, he could be lethargic, insensitive, cynical or plain indifferent to the wishes of his parents.

Compliment and encourage him and he would reciprocate lavishly. Basically, he was cooperative, so there was no need to cajole or threaten him in any way. Efficient and diplomatic, Michael exhibited a lack of prejudice and was inclined to avoid scenes rather than create them. It was safe to give him responsibilities or take him into your confidence even at an early age. Michael was trustworthy and didn’t like being accused of having a loose tongue. He guarded a secret like a sacred trust. To sum it up, Michael will always defend what is his. He has a high sense of values and to him, home and family come first.