Maksa was born at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia.

As a product of the famous Belyaev long-term breeding experiment, she was specifically bred for generations to exhibit extreme tameness and docility toward humans.

She does not possess the natural fear of humans or the hunting instincts needed to survive in the wild, so she serves as an animal ambassador at the JAB Canid Education and Conservation center in California.