What was the name of Anne Brontë's dog?

Anne Brontë’s dog was named Flossy.

Flossy was a small spaniel associated with Anne during the Brontë family’s years at Haworth Parsonage. Anne worked as a governess for the Robinson family at Thorp Green near York from 1840 to 1845. After she left, the Robinson children gave her the dog, which became her favourite companion and returned with her to Haworth.

The Brontë household was known for its affection for animals. The family’s other notable dogs included Keeper, Emily Brontë’s large and powerful favourite, and Grasper, an earlier terrier-like dog. These names can easily cause confusion in trivia questions, but Flossy is the dog specifically linked with Anne. Contemporary recollections describe Flossy as a long-haired black-and-white spaniel.

Flossy also helps illuminate the sisters’ writing lives. Charlotte, Emily and Anne frequently incorporated animals into their fiction, giving dogs distinctive behaviour and emotional importance. Anne’s experience as a governess later influenced Agnes Grey, while her life with Flossy remained part of the domestic world shared by the sisters at Haworth. Flossy survived Anne and died in 1854, shortly before Charlotte.