[ 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, 1830, issue included a reader's story about his acquisistion of a bulldog — back in the day when bull-baiting was still a thing. But Newfoundlands come in for a few mentions, the first being in a discussion of the courage of the author's bulldog:
...for be it remembered that the fact of Lord Byron possessing courage is proved in the Reviews, by the knowledge of his fearlessness in always being accompanied, even in his swimming feats, by a Newfoundland dog. (367)
An instance of what I consider great courage was shewn by my bull-dog during the late rery cold weather. I arrived at a ferry on the river Severn, when that river was frozen at the sides, and ice in small detachments was floating down its centre, accompanied by a large Newfoundland dog and my bull-dog. After the ferryman had assured me that the ice would not prevent the dogs from swimming, I stepped into the boat, and left them both behind. The Newfoundland, an excellent water-dog, immediately ran down to tlie water's edge, but, afraid to launch forth, commenced running backwards and forwards along the side of the river, howling in no measured terms. Not so with little bully; for as soon as the boat was pushed off, he ran down into the water with his inexpressible look of resolution, and swam perseveringly across — he then, after the interim of half an hour, swam back again, when we found the Newfoundland in the same state of vacillation as we left him: for being exceedingly fond of me, though his courage would not allow him to cross over the icy water, yet his fidelity could not grant him absolution from awaiting my return. We have a well-known instance on record of a bulldog, thongh considerably a worse swimmer, beating two Newfoundland dogs in distance of swimming, entirely through his superior and more obstinate courage. (368)
And, finally, in regard to the bulldog's self-sufficiency when out of reach of his master's commands:
... if any great noise arises, so as to drown my voice, or a bustle, so as to cover my gestures, he is sure, if his abilities are put in requisition, to be doing his own work in his own way. This was the case the other day, when, during a noise created by the roaring of some pigs, he fell on the Newfoundland dog abovementioned, and, after an obstinate contest, fairly beat him. The Newfoundland, for that kind of dog, is a desperate fighter, and weighs 841bs., exactly as mnch again as his antagonist; so that in point of size it was "a horse to a hen" affair; but a stern denial to the big one's compliments ensured success to the little trump. (369)