The biggest problem with dogs is it can be very difficult to guess their intensions.

My original pair would have been a nightmare for the tough guy attitude, and that includes this version.

Now mine rarely got out, so no danger to people. And the way to go was to treat them as friendly (and if they did get out and were away from home it is doubtful they would seem aggressive).

But they would present a very real danger to a cyclist with the bark strategy. Why? because they would see that as an invitation to play. A playful jump can translate to a broken collarbone.

Actually the waterbottle squirt is a pretty good idea, most dogs dislike it, but no harm, no revenge trigger in the dogs. With my pair one would hate it, the other not. But the one would did not hate it would have enjoyed it, which would have been more than enough distraction to let you be gone.