A green dog, crimson mountain rock, red and black human bodies – the free use of colors through anti-naturalism is an eternal theme in Zhou's paintings.

The dog's demeanor i s completel y different in this painting with the mouth wide open revealing a set of rather intimidating canines. There is also a very unstable element within the ripples' layers of color. When creating art, the character of the form, the theme and relationships are the key elements. The minimalist form and the sculpted sense of volume used free flowing strokes to express power and speed while the brush strokes hinted at the feel and texture. The clear separation between the positive and negative spaces also serves to emphasize the relationship between volume and movement. The Green Dog i s Zhou's sculpture on canvas. It also used the sculptural form to reconstruct the flower and bird paintings of the literati. As such, it is the result from Zhou's in-depth studies into the nature of painting.

In the West, the color green is considered a very vivid color that represents good fortune or misfortune. As for Zhou, the color green brought him a great deal of good fortune. For more than 10 years, the green dog in Zhou's art appeared in a variety of moods and poses to reflect a complete and utter sense of violence and sexuality. Zhou put all of his radical imagination into this German Shepherd so that his green dog has become an image and a much appreciated theme.

According to the artist himself: "The Green Dog is a symbol. Green represents tranquility and romance but also the calm before the storm. Though the dog seemed obedient on the surface, its inner nature was filled with passion. Its green body, strong presence and barely suppressed explosive power were unforgettable."