[ 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, 1805, issue featured an article on the consistency of traits in animals across both time and geographical distance (this was decades before ideas regarding evolution and natural selection were widely current), and the author (who I personally find profoundly in erroer) makes a reference to (hypothetical) Newfoundlands:
The English bull-dog displayed the same unconquerable obstinacy on the arena of ancient Rome, as he does at this day in the island which gave him birth; and the Newfoundland dog of the present day is equally gentle, equally attached to his master, and like firm in his defence in every part of Europe and in America. (23)