After meeting through their dog groomer, Queenstown women Erica Wymore and Meg Margison looked at dog daycare businesses elsewhere, then left their jobs with Jetstar and NZSki and opened the Dog Company.
"I used to say you should have a daycare to the dog groomer and Meg must have said the same," Ms Wymore told the Queenstown Times.
The Dog Company is run much like a children's daycare centre, with half-day and full-day guests and encouraged nap or quiet times.
Since opening in mid-September, the women have been publicising their service to Queenstown's dog owners.
"There are 3500 registered dogs in Queenstown. That's a huge amount in a small, wee town," Ms Margison said.
The Gorge Rd location means dogs can be taken for walks in the neighbouring reserve.
Ms Wymore said she had always felt guilty about leaving her dog, Louie, alone while she worked, and had been waiting for someone to start a dog daycare business.
"It is a new idea and people from Queenstown aren't familiar with it ... a lot of them thought it's a kennel."
It was important to socialise dogs, especially at a young age, as socialised dogs were "happier and healthier".
Dogs were introduced to others one at a time and the centre was equipped with fences to separate areas.
"The male dogs have to be neutered and the female dogs have to stay at home when they are on heat and they have to be registered."
So far there had been an assortment of people dropping their dogs off - not only working people but others just wanting to socialise their dog.
Ms Wymore said there were plans to offer more services such as grooming and pet transport.
