Are you and your pet astrological soul mates?

Whether you casually skim your horoscope every month or have Mercury retrograde alerts programmed into your phone calendar, you’ve probably used astrology at one time or another to gauge compatibility with your newest crush or your oldest BFF. But there’s another important relationship in your life that could benefit from a look to the stars—one that might give you paws (hint, hint). That’s right, it’s your pet.

“The astrology chart, to me, is the fingerprint of life—it shows you the basic personality. And, of course, that works with animals as well as people,” explains astrologer and mystic Elizabeth Joyce.

And it all begins with the way in which your sign aligns with your pet’s. According to Joyce, astrological harmonies with pets work much like they do between humans. So for instance, a Virgo pet owner will be quite compatible with a pet born under a Taurus or Capricorn sign (a trine), whereas they won’t be as compatible with a pet born under a Gemini or Sagittarius sign (a square). So if you’re looking to adopt, you may want to find out when Tiger or Fido was born to see how your two signs will get along.

Astrological harmonies with pets work much like they do between humans.

Now, if you already have a furry friend at home, you can use their sign traits to better understand their behavior and train them accordingly. So if you’re an orderly Virgo with a rambunctious Gemini puppy, that may not be the best match on the surface—but don’t worry. “A Gemini wants to slide across the floor that Virgo just cleaned. You’ll have to work with her to be more disciplined,” says Joyce. (And the Virgo might want to work on her patience and letting go a bit, too…)

According to Joyce, Taurus pets (those born between April 20 and May 21) are typically the easiest of the zodiac to train, whereas Capricorns (born between December 22 and January 19) are some of the hardest. Scorpios (October 23 to November 21) aren’t ones to back down from a confrontation, whereas Cancers (June 21 to July 22) are quite sensitive and like a calm home. Aquarius pets (January 20 to February 18) can sometimes be aloof, while Pisces (February 19 to March 20) are some of the most empathetic. Being in tune to your pet’s specific rhythms and needs will help build an even stronger bond over time. (You can see Joyce’s entire rundown of the different animal sign traits here.)

Taurus pets are typically easiest to train; Capricorns are some of the hardest.

But what if you’re considering adopting a rescue and the shelter doesn’t have her birth information on hand? That’s where you’ll have to let your instincts be your guide, says Joyce.

“You do it with the heart,” she explains. “You take a deep breath and you tell your blessed higher self—or spirit or whoever you want—to connect you energetically with the right dog. That means, before you go in and look at them, you have a pre-set condition.” For example, maybe you’ll decide that the dog who jumps all over you and licks your face is the one. “Trust your instincts,” Joyce says.

Of course, Joyce stresses that astrology is just one tool for better understanding man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Your pet’s breed and unique personality are also meaningful factors. “Temperament is temperament,” says Joyce. And when you find the right pet, you’ll just know.

Regardless of your sign, you’ll love these adorable wellness pups on Instagram. And here’s what to know about sharing your bed with Fido.