[ Sporting Magazine ]
The Sporting Magazine (1792 - 1870) is considered the first general sporting magazine, though in its later decades it gave considerable emphasis to fox hunting. But it published all manner of sporting-related material, from news stories to poetry to calendars of upcoming sporting events. The subtitle of this magazine was "Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of the Turf, the Chace, and every other Diversion interesting to the Man of Pleasure, Enterprize and Spirit." [more at Wikipedia]
In the July 1827 issue there appeared the following brief anecdote of a lost child being protected by a Newfoundland:
A curious circumstance occurred at Elstree, Herts, on the 8th of June. A fine little child, about two years and a half old, was missed by his father, who is a gardener in a gentleman's family. Concluding the child had fallen into one of the ponds in the garden, they were dragged, but nothing found which could lead to a discovery. The outhouses — in fact the neighbourhood — were searched with as little success. In the evening a boy, who was passing the dog kennel, to which was chained a large Newfoundland dog, and which very unlikely place no one had ventured near, espied the little infant fast asleep in the humble dwelling of his canine friend. The paws of the animal were round the child’s neck. On his attempting to approach the child, the dog shewed symptoms of a determination to retain possession of his little companion, which induced the boy to call the father of the child to aid in the rescue. He also was denied approach; but the infant, being awakened, was immediately permitted to leave the kennel to run to the arms of its overjoyed parent. (242)