Kathie Lee Gifford drops puppy in awkward 'Today' segment - video

Kathie Lee Gifford accidentally dropped a puppy during a live segment on Today.

The Today fourth hour host was in the midst of a pet adoption segment on Thursday (October 11), when an apparently slippery dog fell out of her arms and hit the ground.



Gifford immediately petted the dog - which appeared to be uninjured - and profusely apologised for her accident.

"Puppy took a nose dive-y," she later joked.

Gifford called into Today on Friday (October 11) to discuss the incident with anchors Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie.

"The puppy's okay, but I'm a wreck," she declared. "It's very upsetting for me. I have three dogs of my own and I adore dogs."

She then added on a more humorous note: "The problem is that the dog did not want to go home with [co-host] Hoda [Kotb]."

Gifford previously made an on-air gaffe in May, when she appeared unaware of the death of Martin Short's wife while asking how he keeps his marriage successful.

She later issued an apology on Twitter, writing: "I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled [the] situation [with] enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful."

Gifford has hosted Today's fourth hour since April 2008.