Hi my name is Christine Tran i have contacting some breeders and asking them if a maremma sheepdog is a good guard dog. I need a dog that will guard my land if a person comes onto it without permission. I need the dog to guard the land and my house, but i also need it to be kind to my two kids. I know they are old enough to defend themselves, but i need the dog to be a good family dog, but when it comes to strangers i need it to be aggresive.

   If the maremma sheepdog isnt the right kind of i dog i need please tell me, and suggest another breed ( besides the german sheperd )

        Thank you
          Christine Tran

It depends what country you live in as to whether what you suggest is legal. In the UK the Guard Dogs Act says:

(1) A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a person ('the handler') who is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(2) The handler of a guard dog shall keep the dog under his control at all times while it is being used as a guard dog at any premises except:
   (a) while another handler has control over the dog; or
   (b) while the dog is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(1) A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a notice containing a warning that a guard dog is present is clearly exhibited at each entrance to the premises.

If you have a dog which is known to be aggressive it would have to be muzzled if it were ever likely to meet strangers.

They are not in the UK

Maremmas are not guard dogs they are flock guardians & are bonded with their flock at an early age They do not guard property but the flock from predators like wolves & coyotes etc

The GSD is strictly speaking not a guard dog either(all they are incorrectly used as such)they are a shepherding breed used to keep the sheep in a designated area  in tandem with another dog & the shepherd

You would be better looking at the traditional guarding breeds such as the various mastiff types

For this reason you are very unlikely to find any responsible breeder who has carefully bred, reared and socialised their pups would be willing to let them go to a home as a Guard dog.  Breeders take pride in the temperament of their dogs. 

Any irresponsible person prodcuign puppies that are likely to be aggressive is not going to be able to assure you that they will make exceptions for family members as these dogs will simply have bad natures.

To be honest any large dog that gives warning (especially an obviously well trained one) is sufficient deterent to a casual no gooder, and no dog would deter someone determined to break in, that is what Alarms and Security measures are for.

Most dogs will make good WATCH DOGS and those perceived to be Guarding breeds are more of a deterent than others.