A news anchor whose face was mauled by a dog on live TV has spoken out for the first time about the incident.

Denver's KUSA-TV Kyle Dyer was left with horrific scars after she was attacked by the 85lb (38kg) Argentine mastiff during a TV interview.

She told the Denver Post that her first reaction to the bite was 'I'm bleeding, and it had to be on television!'

The newswoman, who has a scar on her upper lip where skin had to be grafted, said she feels lucky to be alive.

'It could have been so much worse. [My image] may seem like a superficial business but the people out there in Colorado are not superficial,' she said.

She said she had received an "overwhelming" amount of support from across the globe since the attack.

"I just keep reading those letters and know that I'm going to heal. I'm going to be better than ever," she said.