Flush is a young spaniel. The word “spaniel” has a convoluted and debated etymology, though it may be linked to the types of dogs that were bred to catch rabbits by the Carthaginians. Alternatively, it may derive from the Basque word España, meaning “edge or boundary” (5). The modern breeds of British spaniels can be traced back to Wales. There are at least seven famous spaniel families, each with distinct characteristics. Together with greyhounds and hounds, they are considered among the aristocracy of dogs. A well-bred spaniel, tradition dictates, must adhere to certain physical characteristics.

Flush is born and raised on a farm near Reading, England. He belongs to a writer named Mary Russell Mitford. Flush possesses the physical characteristics expected of the finest spaniels. The exact date of his birth is not known, but he was likely born early in the year 1842. As per Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s later poems, Flush has a dark brown coat, hazel eyes, tasseled ears, and a broad tail. In the first years of his life, he lives in a country cottage with the Mitfords. They used to be a wealthy family but have fallen on hard times.