The hunter, identified only as René, told France Bleu radio the dog accidentally pulled the trigger of his shotgun when he jumped on him while they were hunting Sunday in the Dordogne region.
René said he was hunting with three dogs when two of them ran off after a deer while the youngest stayed behind.
"He jumped on top of me for a cuddle" and accidentally fired the gun, shooting him in the right hand, René said.
The hunter was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Bordeaux but the damage was too serious and the hand had to be amputated.
"It wasn't the dog's fault," René insisted. "And he's adorable! I should have left the (gun's) safety on, that's all."
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