酉 × 戌

Rooster and Dog Compatibility in Chinese Astrology

Six Harm (六害)

In traditional Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rooster and the Year of the Dog form a relation known as Six Harm (六害). While yang Earth naturally supports yin Metal, this pairing can experience crossed wires when direct critiques or outside opinions get in the way of mutual trust.

How this pairing tends to go

People born in the Year of the Rooster bring yin Metal's organized, observant approach to life, while people born in the Year of the Dog bring yang Earth's protective, straightforward loyalty. In daily routines, a Dog person's steady reliability gives a Rooster person a solid anchor, and a Rooster person's knack for structure helps turn shared ideas into tidy action plans. The Six Harm dynamic rarely shows up as a disagreement over big principles; instead, it surfaces in tone and timing. When a Rooster person points out a flaw to be helpful, a Dog person—already prone to anticipating difficulties—may hear it as a lack of faith or appreciation. Conversely, when a Dog person vents worries about a situation, a Rooster person might jump straight into correcting their approach. Speaking plainly about good intentions keeps small misunderstandings from lingering.

As partners

As a couple, you two care deeply about honesty and building a dependable home life. Friction usually creeps in when stress makes the Rooster partner sound overly exacting or the Dog partner seem overly guarded. Checking in directly with each other—before letting family opinions or unspoken worries take root—keeps your daily connection grounded and warm.

As friends

In friendship, Rooster and Dog people offer each other candid perspectives and practical help when things get busy. You both value sincerity over surface chatter. Because crossed wires can happen through text messages or third-party gossip, picking up the phone to clarify a comment ensures your loyalty to each other stays front and center.

Working together

On a team, Rooster and Dog coworkers combine sharp quality control with steadfast dedication to the group's goals. The Rooster colleague refines the process while the Dog colleague watches out for potential risks and fairness. Clear role boundaries and respectful phrasing during review meetings help you two collaborate smoothly.

Where it flows

• Mutual respect for honest effort
• Combining structure with reliable support

Where it takes effort

• Separating helpful notes from criticism
• Clarifying mixed messages directly

Ask each other

• How can I phrase practical suggestions so you still feel my full support?
• When outside stress builds up, what helps us talk it through without assuming the hardest outcome?

The traditional link

With Six Harm (六害), one sign clashes with the natural partner of the other, creating a subtle sense of crossed wires. In everyday life, misunderstandings often happen indirectly, such as through mixed messages, mismatched timing, or letting outside opinions from family and friends cloud a private conversation. Talking directly to each other first keeps small assumptions from turning into quiet distance.

Explained in San Ming Tong Hui (《三命通会·论六害》) through the six pairs 子未, 丑午, 寅巳, 卯辰, 申亥, and 酉戌, where one branch disrupts the Six Harmony (六合) partner of the other.

The two signs

酉 · Rooster

People born in the Year of the Rooster embody the precise, polished nature of Metal. Observant and organized, Rooster people take pride in clear standards, honest feedback, and doing things properly from start to finish. They notice what needs fixing and step in to organize it. Their growth edge is softening their delivery and accepting that not every moment requires correction or a neatly structured plan.

戌 · Dog

People born in the Year of the Dog reflect the protective, steadfast character of Earth. Dog people value loyalty, fairness, and straightforward honesty, standing reliably by the people and principles they care about. They are quick to spot insincerity and offer grounded, practical support. Their growth edge is releasing unnecessary worry and trusting that difficulties can be worked through without assuming the hardest outcome first.

A zodiac pairing compares birth years only. Treat it as a conversation starter, not a verdict: your full birthdays say much more, and how you treat each other matters most.