The kanji 戌 is associated with the Dog in the Japanese zodiac.
戌 is the eleventh earthly branch and is read Inu when used for the Japanese zodiac animal Dog. The sign follows Rooster and comes immediately before Boar, the Japanese counterpart of the Chinese zodiac Pig in many English-language explanations.
Japanese zodiac signs are based on the same 12-branch framework used throughout East Asia. They appear in New Year cards, shrine decorations, calendars, and everyday descriptions of birth years. The Dog is traditionally associated with loyalty, honesty, and a strong sense of duty.
The kanji can be confusing because it is not simply the everyday standalone character for dog, which is 犬. 戌 is the calendrical branch character, while Inu identifies the animal represented by that branch. This distinction is useful when reading Japanese zodiac charts or historical calendar inscriptions.