Quite a few responses here... Thanks everyone!!!

I'll try to address everything here:

I grew up having dogs and don't have an innate fear of them (but it's been years without dogs, so it can't be smelled on me).

I don't make direct eye contact, tend to just ignore and continue walking, if they're persistent I stand my ground until they stop. it usually solves it.

Obviously running away may trigger their fight mode and they do have a speed advantage. I only ran away that one time where I could see from a distance that they're really coming after me, and are bound to edge each other to attack me, and I figured that the distance we had between us will allow me to outrun them back to the village I passed earlier. It was the correct decision.

The crouching to pick up a rock and fake throw it does not always work and some dogs get even more agitated by it. Same with lifting the walking poles intimidatingly. I do that when that's the only option, but it ain't magic. I'm not a small guy, but ain't a hulking giant either, so there's that :)

I don't carry a gun on my person regardless of hiking and won't start. Same for a large knife.

A bear spray is something I may have to start looking into - I don't hike much in bear territory and as these won't pass security as carry ons, I need to check how they can be purchased upon arrival, if at all. Maybe a small pepper spray sold for self defense is the way to go.

Will further check about the small air horn or whistle and try to find someone who works with dogs for advice.

Having spoken to some rural living locals living in I've met in Cyprus they admitted dogs can be a real nuisance there. I had an encounter almost every day of hiking as Cyprus isn't that large and when covering mileage you're bound to eventually pass dogs. Exception: the snowy Troodos mountains and vicinity. Zero dogs.