Figured it out by accident - grab it telekinetically while stunned (I'm not sure if you have to target a specific location or not).

Ok, not a specific target but rather a minimum duration requirement like the Sarahul warrior shields.

Do you mean when you are in the desert right before the dragon's temple? I believe you just continue running through until you get there, stopping gets you killed iirc.

No. I made it through and now know it was a baby dragon. I killed the one outside by accident but couldn't figure out how do it again with those inside. I was able to run past them however. I think I have to grab its throat target then back up but haven't encountered another to test the theory. Picking up the soul crystal solved the problem with them.

As for the mother dragon, I succeeded on the 200th try. I had to raise pillars of sand to block her flame whenever she surfaced. I only had to do it twice to make it to the temple (the edge of the plateau on the stairway blocked her third attack). I ran along the left side (facing the temple) of the map. Required running backwards a bit to keep an eye on her.

Obviously she's in revenge mode now, which isn't any different than she was treating me except now she means it. I made it up the spiral tower (that first dust curtain was a real pain) and am now trying to knock her back down the roof hole (which takes about two seconds longer than I have).

Your journey sounds amazing, I'm pretty glad you are liking it. Just to clarify the baby dragons only become vulnerable when you remove their stone crystal which protects them from damage. The crystal can be removed by ripping it out of their throat when they are knocked back!

Actually it's an insta-kill. What I had forgot was that to "extract" anything telekinetically you have to right-click then walk backwards.

Edit: Maybe the effect depends on the difficulty setting.

You dont need to walk backwards you can also use the scroll wheel to pull away or towards you