When Cleo first got here she was a large puppy, most here know that. My son is 4 and he likes dogs "okay" but isn't crazy about them...doesn't like them touching him unless he intitiates it, etc.
From the first days Cleo was here...she was very attracted to both my kids. No prob with Lily as we went over the no being on the floor, no mouth play, firm voices no's and all that. Elias was more difficult tho. He likes to do his own thing...and most times those first days that thing did NOT include Cleo.
He has a chair in the living room where he watches TV...and like most males he likes to be left alone when "in his chair"...Cleo would often approach and get in his face licking and wide open mouth...he'd squeal and push at her and I'd step in a redirect. It was getting to be a cycle that repeated and I was in truth getting frustrated with it.
One day I did NOT step in right away....he stopped squealing, and then said "NO DOG...NO" and she looked crushed and walked away and lay down and stared at him and sighed...then kinda dozed off. Later he realized she was there and he got up and approached her and she of course....woke up popped up and got excited....he retreated and said again "NO DOG....NO".
She sat there very confused looking.
This sort of thing went on for a bit...days...and then one day she came in from outside...and ran into the living room and lay down in his line of site. he of course had noticed her and he got up and petted her head then that's when it clicked for her I think,..she stayed calm...and lay there. He stroked and talked at her a bit then went and got a ball and tossed it at her LOL.
From that day they really have become much better friends. He in essence trained her thru his method of voice correction and completely ignoring her when she wasn't in a position he liked (sitting or down)...to be calm around him. It has stuck and even when she and I are rambunctiously playing Elias can come in and she either leaves the area or remains well back...coming in now and again to touch him with her nose...mouth closed and receive a pat and then backs off again.
No real reason for posting this other than to share my amazement that a 4 year old could communicate his wishes to a young dog so clearly...he used some techniques which are talked about here, ignoring bad/pushy behavior....rewarding good behavior, owning his space, voice correction, etc.