"There was this awesome moment where we're walking through the corridor and 10 people came out of the lift and in synchrony you could hear 'Awwwwww'," student organiser David Harvey said.

Mr Harvey, the Fenner residents' committee social representative, said he put together the idea ahead of exams.

"We've got exams next week, it's mid semester and we thought it's really cool to have a de-stress, kind of chill greyhound play date, is how we marketed it," he said.

"Literally this, come out into the sun, hang out with some greyhounds, meet some owners, just integrate with the community a bit more."

Mr Harvey contacted Greyhound Connections a few months ago with the idea, and he was soon put in touch with Sami Bull, the group's vice-president and recent greyhound owner.

Ms Bull said greyhounds were the biggest "cuddlemonsters".

"They are so calm, and they will just take every little bit of attention that you give to them and they will lap it up and they will smile and they'll lean on you," she said.

"There's just something about the presence of a greyhound and then the physical presence of them leaning and just pushing their head into you, they're just amazing."

Greyhound Connections, which began in 2016, fosters relationships with local greyhound trainers and breeders and helps retired greyhounds to find permanent homes.

The group meets every Saturday at the Greyhound Racing Club's straight track, where the dogs can safely stretch their legs.

The dogs that gathered at Fenner Hall on Sunday were all friends from the social group, Ms Bull said.

Martina Taliano, the group's president, said greyhounds were a good fit for what the students needed.

"It's just amazing, greyhounds are particularly good for bringing to these situations because they grow up with other greyhounds their entire lives."

"So bringing 20 or 30 of them together, it's not a big bark fest and they all know each other."

By 2.30pm, on a sunny, 17 degree winter's day, the yard at Braddon's Fenner Hall was packed with students and some 20 greyhounds of all different colours and sizes.

There was the greyhound Sadie, who wore pyjamas because she is always cold, and the white-coated Porscha, who spent a good deal of the afternoon lounging in students' laps.

Mr Harvey said, "I was a bit worried, there was this point where at a quarter to two there was no-one here and I was like, 'Oh this was all a dream'.

Ms Bull said, "Then the army of greyhounds descended."

The gathering was free, Ms Bull said, "except the exchange of greyhound love. Which is priceless."

Ms Taliano said if anyone wanted to rent a greyhound crowd to contact the group on Facebook.

"The more we can spread the love the better."