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 November, 1812, issue included this brief note of a Newf keeping watch of his passed-out owner:
A SINGULAR instance of fidelity in a dog was evinced in Piccadilly, on Saturday evening, the 7th instant. A decent-looking man, who wore the uniform of a Warrant-Officer of a ship of war, and who had sacrificed too freely to the jolly God, was so completely overcome on reaching St. James's Church, that he fell to the pavement, and was unable again to rise. He seemed perfectly contented with his situation, and immediately composed himself to sleep, in such a manner, however, as completely to block up the footpath. He was accompanied by a large dog, of the Newfoundland species, who, the moment his master had taken his station, took a position at his head, couchant, and, on several attempts being made to remove the senseless drunk into a less inconvenient place, this faithful guardian rose with the utmost ferocity, and, with threatening growls, kept in awe all who presumed to approach. In this situation the fallen hero remained for three hours, when, having slept off the fumes of his intoxicating libations, he awoke, and, on rising, was told of the care his dog had taken of him, upon which he exclaimed, " O d-—n his eyes? this is not the first time he has kept watch with equal fidelity!"