The modern Hunting Dogs are a late constellation; these stars originally did not form two dogs. They lie between Boötes — the Shepherd — and the Great Bear — God's flock, so their natural meaning in the overall heavenly picture is the Shepherd's Rod, the instrument of authority by which the Shepherd leads, gathers, and protects his flock. The Hunting Dogs appeared on European charts only in modern times, whereas the earlier tradition linked this area with the staff or crook of Boötes. The biblical image is entirely apt: Christ is the Shepherd, the Church is His flock, and His rod and staff signify His authority, guidance, and protection.
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
The constellation of the Hunting Dogs did not exist in the ancient star chart. Ptolemy assigned its main stars to 'unformed' stars near the Great Bear, not forming a separate figure. Only in the 17th century did dogs begin to be depicted there, and Johannes Hevelius in 1687 finally formalized them as a separate constellation, Canes Venatici — the two dogs of Boötes.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore, to recover the original meaning, this region must be returned to Boötes. Boötes is located directly next to the Great Bear: the Shepherd beside his flock. And the area of the modern Hunting Dogs lies precisely between them. In old depictions, a curved staff or crook was associated with Boötes; it was from this tradition that the story of the dogs later arose.
In the overall biblical picture, everything becomes very simple:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Great Bear — God's flock, the Church. Boötes — Christ, the Shepherd of God's flock. Area of the Hunting Dogs — the Shepherd's Rod, His authority over the flock.
The shepherd's staff serves two functions. With it, the shepherd directs the sheep, not allowing them to stray from the right path, and with it he also protects the flock from what would destroy them. Therefore David says: 'Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.' For the sheep, the Shepherd's rod is not a threat but evidence that the One who leads and protects is near.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This is especially important next to the Great Bear. The Church is not a flock left to itself. Christ does not merely gather people; He shepherds them with His authority: He leads them on His path, corrects those who have gone astray, protects them from the enemy, and brings them to where God has determined.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The image of the rod in Scripture simultaneously means shepherding and royal authority. Therefore the staff of Boötes shows Christ not only as a caring Shepherd, but also as a Shepherd-King. His flock belongs to Him, hears His voice, and is under His authority.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Thus the late image of two dogs obscures a more unified heavenly picture. Between the Shepherd and the flock lies His Rod. Christ leads and guards His Church, and therefore God's flock can say: 'Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.'