I am so happy.
I came home to visit my parents, and unwittingly discovered a perfect training situation for Leo. Some family friends are also staying over for a few days, including two 5 year olds, and a 6 year old.
Leo is a little scared of them, but they are also a little scared of him, which has created the perfect situation. They do not want to get to close to him, but are happy to throw treats/his frisbee from a distance, if and only if I am also there with them. So, we have a situation where Leo is constantly having positive interactions with children he is afraid of. I also do not have to worry about them acting inappropriately, because they WILL NOT interact with him unless I am there.
They stay out of his way, walk slowly, speak quietly, but then every once in a while they will throw toys or treats! The transformation is amazing. In the past few hours, I have seen him visibly relax...from growling in the very beginning, to quietly skulking out of the way, to ears up and relaxed body posture while they are in the backyard with him (and with me).
I did not even know they would be in the house when I came to visit, but it has turned into the perfect situation. They are absolutely the perfect kids for the job of desentitizing Leo to kids