Amen!One thing you may want to try is to simply sit on the floor with your son in a comfortable place, out in the open, like on a family room rug. Lay down and play a board game, or sit down and share a snack. When you are on his level and not moving around, you may find he comes near out of curiosity. Pat the floor, an invitation to join you, and leave it at that.
Repeat daily, and you may find he just walks up to join you one day, with a doggy smile and wagging tail. Reward him with kind words, hold off on the touch until he invites it by leaning on or rubbing on you.
I gentled (rather than broke) many horses growing up. Kindness and trust is a slower method than force and fear, but the results are much better!
