Dragon help in Skyrim. Can’t escape

Later in game with will get easier:

You will get a Shout called Dragonrend, it will bring them down with ease.

Before that stange, use somekind of magic that seems to lure them, I use a bow most of the times, works for me.

I also just try to stay in the same area under where they fly.

Followers are generally given a set of skills that will improve, regardless of what you equip them with. These will improve with level, but nothing else will. Faendal is always going to do better with bows than with a greatsword, for example.

To this end, the official strategy guide states:

• Sven's skills are alchemy, enchanting, smithing, and archery
• Lydia's skills are in one-handed, heavy armor, archery, and block; not sneak

It's not clear where the rumor that Lydia would make an excellent thief started: UESP mentions she has the sneak skill on the list of followers (I suspect that's where Wikia pulled the information), but her wiki page clearly marks her as a warrior (the correct designation). Nothing about her says "stealthy": she starts with a sword and board and tells you over and over that she's there to protect you.

While the official strategy guide does list what each follower's skill is, with the exception of Lydia, UESP's version matches up with the strategy guide, so it should be pretty accurate to determine what skills your follower has.

But if you wanted to do it without consulting a guide or a wiki, it's generally common sense and usually based on what equipment they come with. Lydia comes with a sword and shield, so her skills are one-handed and block; Faedrun comes with a bow, so one of his skills is archery; and so on.