The lunar1 calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and associates2 each of the 12 years that form a partial cycle with an animal. The Chinese calendar moves in 60-year cycles, meaning the world will experience in the new year similar events that took place in 1946.
農曆以月亮的周期為根據，並將十二年中代表周期的每一年，與一種動物相結合。中國曆法以六十年為一循環，意味在這新的一年裡，世界將會經歷類似一九四六年發生過的大事。

 As the world waves goodbye to the Year of the Rooster, some feng shui geomancers and astrologers said that according to ancient3 Chinese belief, dog years are characterized by a rise in the strength of fire and earth. Firing sitting on earth is a symbol4 of support and harmony.5 They also take into account the changing balance over the years in the five spiritual elements that Chinese philosophy believes form the core of the universe-metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
  當世界揮別雞年之際，有些風水師與占星家表示，根據中國古代的信仰，狗年的特性是火與土的能量會增加；火置於土之上，象徵支持與和諧。中國哲學認為五行─金、木、水、火、土是構成宇宙的核心，他們也考慮在流年中五行之間的交替平衡。 

Some other  Chinese  traditional  fortune-
tellers predicted the world should also expect conflict, outbreak6 of intestinal illnesses or other deadly diseases, a shortage of medicines worldwide and natural disasters in the year.
  還有些中國傳統算命師預卜今年世界也會發生衝突、爆發腸疾或其他致命疾病、全球醫藥短缺及自然災害。

People born in years of the dog are thought to be loyal7, reliable8, persistent9, resourceful10, unselfish11 and honest. However, they also tend to be introverted, nosy, anxious, pessimistic, cynical and moody, soothsayers believe.
  算命師認為狗年出生的人忠誠、可靠、堅持、機智、無私而且誠實；然而，他們也有內向、好管閒事、焦慮、悲觀、憤世嫉俗與情緒化的傾向。