[ 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 October, 1836 issue featured an article which discussed reasoning ability in animals, and included this anecdote of a Newfoundland's attempt to get rid of small dog that was annoying it:
Another instance of sense, for it must not be called reason, was evinced by a Newfoundland dog. His master was staying at Worthing, where his dog was teased and annoyed by a small cur which snapped and barked at him. When this had been repeated some time, the Newfoundland dog appeared to lose his usual patience and forbearance, and he one day, in the presence of several spectators, took the cur, up by its back, swam with it into the sea, held it under the water, and would probably have drowned it, had not a boat put off and rescued it. This affords another proof of animal impulse beyond mere instinct. (468)