[ 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 December, 1840 issue carried a brief note about the death of a famous mastiff, Cartache, who had once belonged to the (illegitimate) king of Portugal and was famed for his tremendous size. The author has this to say about Cartache's temperament and strength:
Although fully aware of his immense powers, he was of a mild and tractable disposition, but, when provoked, was dreadful in his wrath, and has been known to punish the attack of a very large Newfoundland dog in seizing him by the throat, shaking him into insensibility, dashing him to the ground, and then walking off with the greatest apparent unconcern. (106)