Billy, a six year Jack Russell from Pirongia like to float rather than swim.

Out of the water, humans. This pool party has gone to the dogs.

With the outdoor pool at Waterworld, Te Rapa closed for the winter, Hamilton City Council opened it on Saturday afternoon for the first Paws in the Pool event.

A downpour came but it failed to dampen the mood of the day. The dogs, more than 300 of them, came prepared for a drenching.

REBEKAH PARSONS-KING/FAIRFAX NZ Mark Featherston, daughter Kate Featherston and their labrador-cross Billie spent the day swimming at Waterworld in Hamilton.

Some of the dogs pawed at the water first before taking the plunge but others torpedoed head-long into the deep as they chased their favourite ball, stick or rubber turtle.

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Billie, a three and a half year old labrador-cross, is on her leash but brimming with excitement.

REBEKAH PARSONS-KING/FAIRFAX NZ A drenched Lola scrambles back to dry land in the ball retrieve competition at the first Paws in the Pool event at Waterworld.

Waiting for the second session of the day to take a dip was too much to bear so she resorted to pulling and jumping and barking to coax her owner Mark Featherston to play.

"She adores the water," Featherston said. "It took her a while to get off the ledge to start with but she was pretty good once she got in."

Not long after, Billie was back in the water with Featherston not far behind her.

REBEKAH PARSONS-KING/FAIRFAX NZ Billy the six year old Jack Russell and his Pirongia family Nancy, 11, Becky, Amelia, 13, and George Leidig at Waterworld in Hamilton.

He said the event was great thing for dogs.

"It's a great idea. It's good for socialising them."

Northland resident Carly Low was in Hamilton visiting family and took her seven year old Italian greyhound, Levi, along to play.

REBEKAH PARSONS-KING/FAIRFAX NZ A border collie takes a leap into the pool at Waterworld.

"It's awesome seeing them all together, especially in the pool when they are all off lead," Low said. "Dog heaven."

Levi is familiar with swimming at beaches on the Tutukaka coast but is a stranger to the pool, Low said.

And being a small dog, he was a little unsure about the Hamilton crowd.

"I'm not sure if he will want to go in with all the dogs," she said. "He's a bit intimidated by all the big dogs, I think."

Stealing the show was Billy, a six year old Jack Russell from Pirongia who substituted the surfboard he uses at home with one of Waterworld's flotation boards.

And he commands attention.

"He likes being on his surfboard rather than under the water," said owner George Leidig​.

Paws in the Pool was another opportunity, like Cambridge's Pooch Racing, for dog owners to get out and about in the region with their pets, he said.

"It's just amazing to see how many people really love their dogs which is really cool to see."

Council's animal education and control manager Sue Stanford said there were more than 300 dogs at the event.

Previous events for canines were held in city parks but after seeing video clip of dogs frolicking in pools, they decided to hold Paws in the Pool.

"We thought, 'whoa, that's us', so we decided to approach Waterworld and it grew from there," Stanford said.

It's also an opportunity to show what council does in the animal control and policy area and proceeds from a $2 gate fee, for each dog, goes to animal rescue charities.

"It's been a great hit," she said. "The turnout has just been great."

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