[ 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]
The April, 1803, issue carried a news report, entitled "Fatal Duel," of the duel between Captain James Macnamara of the Royal Navy and Colonel Montgomery of the army, a duel that had its origins when the two men encountered each other while riding in Hyde Park in London. Each man was accompanied by his Newfoundland dog, and when the dogs began to fight and the Colonel tried to separate them, some words were exchanged, each man felt his honor was impugned, and they agreed to a duel.
This incident is covered in detail in several articles here at The Cultured Newf; you can begin here if you would like to read more about it.
Here is how the Sporting Magazine began its coverage of this incident:
On Wednesday, the 6th instant, towards the close of the evening, a fatal duel took place on Primrose-Hill, near Chalk Farm, in the road to Hampstead. It was between Colonel Montgomery, of the army, and Captain James Macnamara, of the navy. They were both, about four o'clock on the same day, riding in Hyde Park, and each had a Newfoundland dog with him. The dogs unfortunately quarreling, the Colonel got off his horse to protect, or separate his dog from the other; at the same time he called out to Captain Macnamara to call off his dog. (22)
This article goes into detail about the duel and the coroner's inquest, but since that information may be found in the other articles about this duel here at The Cultured Newf, it is not reproduced here. There is one other mention of Newfoundlands in a statement made during the coroner's inquest by one of the witnesses to the initial incident:
Mr. Stephen Sloane. — I was with my brother, in Hyde Park. Colonel M. came up to my brother, whom he knew. We were retiring towards Picadilly, from the bridge in the park. The dogs were then behind. Colonel M. looked round; and, upon seeing his dog, which was a young Newfoundland one, engaged fighting with another of the same kind, but larger and stronger, he got off his horse, in order to part them; Colonel M. observing at the same time that he would knock the other dog down if he flew upon his dog. Captain Macnamara then rode up, and said, if Colonel M. knocked his dog down, he must knock him down also. (24)
Yup, that's how duels get started. The dogs are mentioned again, by breed, by another witness (p. 26) and in a brief quoted passage (source unidentified) near the end of the article.