Interview with Maya

Maya is rather quiet and didn't want to impose, but now she agreed to talk to me about her many years of Shar Pei experience.

Maya, first of all, would you like to tell us something about yourself? Where are you from, how did you come to us and how did you get your name?

I'm from Kunming in Yunnan, which is in the southwest of China. You lived there for a long time. I was pretty young when we met. I was playing with some feathers under a bush when I first saw you. You ran around everywhere and always called "Paula". When you saw me all alone, you looked for people who might possibly own me. But nobody knew who I was. Then we went to your house together. That's how I came to live with you.

My name Maya, it doesn't mean anything and you told me that you just thought it was beautiful.

Are you a pedigree dog

Not like the Shar Pei I live with. And since you found me on the street you don't know anything about my parents. But some Chinese told us that I belong to a group of dogs called Liangshan Dogs. I don't care. I'm just glad to be with you.

Back then you were our youngest dog, today you are our oldest. And because we always had several dogs, you are very experienced. How is life with so many other dogs?

That was and is always very different. When I moved in with you there was Paula, Einstein and Balu. Paula didn't want anything to do with me, but she didn't want anything to do with the others either. Einstein always got angry at first when I tried to play with one of his toys. He didn't like sharing his stuff. I always liked Balu best. We played and snuggled together.

Then there were big changes. We all went on a huge trip halfway around the world. On an airplane. And then we lived in Berlin for a short time. However, only Balu, Einstein and I. Paula didn't want to come and decided to live with friends of yours. She lives there to this day and is now almost 15 years old.

Shortly thereafter we all went on another journey together, by car. And we've been living in Switzerland ever since. Unfortunately my best friend Balu died shortly after and that made me very sad. And Einstein also died a while later. You were so sad when Balu died and flew back to China a few months later and came back with Diting. I thought she was ok, but I didn't want to play with her.

I now do it like Paula did back then. I ignore her. But it doesn't really work, because she always wants to lie with me. But since she doesn't bother me otherwise, I let her do it.

Last year Panhu suddenly came along. You told me that I might like him more because he's a male. And I like him. We get along very well. But I don't like to play anymore. I think I'm too mature for this. I prefer to lie on the sofa, walk around outside and sniff flowers. And I have you and Pierre. That's all I need in life.

At the end of last year, Lily also appeared. I didn't want to have anything to do with her for the first few weeks. I figured if I ignored her from the start, she'd learn to leave me alone right away. But that didn't really work. I do not understand that. She always wants to lie with me and play with me. I think I did that wrong somehow. But I promise you that I'll do better next time if you let another dog live with us!

What do you like best about the Shar Pei?

That they don't eat anything outside and that everything we find is mine if I run away from you fast enough, because you never want me to eat anything. What I also like about them is that they all like looking for mice in the fields as much as I do. Then they are really useful.

And what do you like least about them?

I can't think of anything special. All in all, they're okay.

You've been around a lot in the world. Do you also understand several languages?

Naturally. So at least the words you use to make me do something specific. Because I often get something delicious for it. You seem to think it's great if I sit down when you say it, or come to you when you say it, even if I'm actually busy with something else outside. Anyway, I know these words all in German, English and Chinese.

If you could wish for one thing, what would it be?

One steak, no, two steaks, no, one roast! Oh nonsense, half a cow!

Thank you Maya for this interview.