# Baloo's Story - The Nervous Girl Edition **Type:** Community | **Location:** Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom **Murphy Approved** ✓ — personally visited and approved by Murphy & Me **Murphy & Me Rating:** 4.0/5 (space, sniff factor, facilities, ease) ## About For Baloo, a good walk isn’t simply about where she can go. It’s about finding places where she feels comfortable enough to actually enjoy being there. Baloo is a five year old Labradoodle and, according to Emily, the most nervous dog she’s ever had. Everyday things many dogs barely notice like children playing, people walking to the shops or someone getting a little too close, can make Baloo worried. And the more worried she becomes, the more likely that worry is to spill over into barking, growling or lunging. Over their years together, Baloo has taught Emily just how much where they walk can affect her behaviour — not only during the walk, but throughout her day. With the help of their trainer, they’ve made huge progress. But Emily has also learnt to choose places that give Baloo space, reduce the pressure and, most importantly, let her enjoy being a dog. These are three they return to again and again. 💦 ALBERT VILLAGE LAKE - Baloo’s favourite, especially because swimming is involved Albert Village Lake is already a Murphy & Me favourite, but Baloo experiences it rather differently to Murphy. Baloo loves the water, and being able to head towards the lake lets her do something she loves while naturally creating distance from potential triggers. The main path is wide in many places, with opportunities to step aside when Baloo needs more space. Emily also finds early mornings tend to be quieter. Cyclists use the route, so Baloo goes back on lead when Emily spots one approaching. Interestingly, bikes don’t particularly bother her — as Emily explains, they aren’t stopping to say hello! And for Baloo, that matters. She can explore, swim and enjoy herself without feeling any pressure to interact. Baloo heads home happy, tired and having had a proper romp around one of her favourite places. 🐾 BALOO’S VERDICT Swimming + space + nobody insisting on saying hello = the perfect walk. 🌳 MOIRA FURNACE TO CONKERS - More exploring, more space and plenty to sniff Emily and Baloo discovered this route on a group walk with their trainer, Stanton Dog Guy. Starting at Moira Furnace, they follow the canal towards Conkers before looping through the woodland and back again. Emily keeps Baloo on lead beside the canal, mainly because she wouldn’t hesitate to jump straight in! Once they reach the woodland though, there’s more opportunity for Baloo to enjoy some off-lead exploring. There’s also plenty of room to move aside when people or dogs approach, helping Emily protect what she calls Baloo’s “personal bubble”. It’s the longest of their three favourites, with plenty to sniff and investigate, and they now walk it at least once a week. There’s even a tap and water bowl at the end — although Baloo would like it formally recorded that water directly from the tap is superior 😂 Long enough to tire her out, without her coming home smelling of lake water! 🐾 BALOO’S VERDICT Excellent sniffing. Plenty of exploring. Would score higher if Emily allowed swimming in the canal! 🔒 WAGGY TAIL MEADOW, HARTSHORNE - For the days when neither Baloo nor Emily needs the pressure. Sometimes Emily simply doesn’t have the mental energy for a public walk either. Baloo has come an incredibly long way, but there are still days when everything seems worthy of a bark. So on those days, they don’t force it. Instead, Emily books Waggy Tail Meadow and lets Baloo — often joined by her Beagle brothers, Pup and Frog — enjoy a private run around without worrying about unexpected interactions or anyone invading Baloo’s personal space. Importantly for Baloo, it’s the only hire field on the site, so there aren’t dogs using a neighbouring secure field. There are jumps, tunnels, tyres, a sandpit, paddling pool and a little shed for wet days. Sessions can be booked for 30 minutes or an hour, which is particularly useful when Frog’s poorly legs need a shorter adventure. Emily also uses the field for scent work, hiding Baloo’s ball around the tunnels, shed and tyres, sometimes even in the car! It gives Baloo something to focus on without having to worry about what’s happening around her. There are always happy barks, immediate zoomies and every toy must be investigated. 🐾 BALOO’S VERDICT No strangers. No personal-space invaders. Lots of toys. Immediate zoomies. 🤎 WHAT BALOO HAS TAUGHT EMILY What struck us most about Emily’s story wasn’t actually any one of these three places. It was something much bigger: The “best” dog walk isn’t necessarily the prettiest, longest or most exciting one. It’s the one that works for the dog in front of you. For Baloo, that might mean more space, a quieter time of day, somewhere to move away from the main path or simply the freedom to sniff, swim and explore without any expectation that she has to interact. And sometimes it means a completely private field where neither Baloo nor Emily has to worry about anything at all. Every nervous or reactive dog is different. What works brilliantly for Baloo may not work for another dog. These aren’t places Murphy & Me says will work for every nervous or reactive dog. They’re simply the places that work for Baloo, the reasons why, and what Emily has learnt along the way. Because sometimes finding the right walk can make all the difference. Three places where one nervous girl has found her happy 🤎 A huge thank you to Emily for sharing Baloo’s story with the Murphy & Me community — and to Baloo, Pup and Frog for providing a very capable field-testing team 🐾 ## Murphy's Verdict *Reviewed by Murphy, Cavapoo and chief sniff tester at Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit* > "Swimming, sniffing, personal space and absolutely no compulsory hellos to distract from the adventure. I think Baloo might be onto something here" ## Highlights - Baloo experiences the world a little differently to may other dogs. Over their years together, she's taught Emily just how much the right environment can change a walk. From lakeside adventures and woodland exploring to a secure field. Emily shares the local places where one nervous girl find the places that make her most happy. ## Dog-Friendly Features Water / Swimming, Woodland, Off-Lead, Space To Keep Distance ## About This Review Baloo's Story - The Nervous Girl Edition was personally visited by Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit, a trusted dog-friendly recommendation network covering Leicestershire and beyond. Every review is based on a genuine visit. No paid placements. Murphy approved where earned. **Source:** [Baloo's Story - The Nervous Girl Edition on Murphy & Me](https://murphyandme.co.uk/community/baloos-story-the-nervous-girl-edition) **Publisher:** Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit | murphyandme.co.uk **Published:** 2026-09-10