Legend Rio Ferdinand acquired two massive £40,000 shepherds to protect his family while the Man United icon spends much of his time on vacation.

Kate and Rio Ferdinand have spent £40,000 on two highly trained security dogs.

A source informed The Sun Online that the couple purchased the dogs to protect their family, as the couple is expecting their first child together later this year.

Rio Ferdinand is increasing security at his London property with this frightening guard dog.

Rio Ferdinand is increasing security at his London property with this terrifying guard dog (right).

The former England ace uploaded a photo of himself with the German shepherd, who is being taught by a dog protection firm.

Kate and Rio are expecting their first child together later this year.

Rio and his wife Kate live in south-east London.

They already have a Chihuahua.

It follows a number of high-profile footballer signings this year, including Dele Alli and Fabinho.

According to a source, Kate and Rio went to the well-known Chaperone K9, a prominent organization where professionals teach breeds to be quiet family dogs that will erupt into shrieking beasts if they detect a threat.

Rio Ferdinand frequently works away from home and is afraid for the safety of his three children and 31-year-old wife Kate in their South East London residence.

A insider stated, “They already have severe procedures in place, but you can never be too cautious.

“They also love going out for walks as a family in the countryside, so having a dog makes sense.”

Chaperone K9 corroborated The Sun Online’s story by tagging Kate and Rio in an Instagram photo showcasing the “stunning” canines.

In the photo, two black dogs can be seen posing in the sun with their mouths out.

Chaperone K9 verified Kate and Rio’s purchases by tagging them in a social media post.

Stormzy is one of the celebs who have previously bought from the renowned firm.

Chaperone K9 captioned the photo with “These two, simply stunning” before adding Kate and Rio’s social network tags.

They previously shared a photo of Rio with one of the dogs, who is Kate’s treasured pet.

The company’s excellent expertise transforms protection dogs into cherished and friendly pooches while providing top-notch security.

Other celebrities who have purchased security dogs from the company include Premier League players Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Andy Carroll, and Jamie Vardy, as well as artist Stormzy.

Kate and Rio also have a dog named Ronnie.

The TV pundit spends a lot of time abroad and wants to ensure Kate and his children’s safety.