Most of the links you will find on the internet regarding this issue will tell you YES.

Why?  Well, if you have a female you'll end up putting diapers on your dog when in the house.  If a male, you'll constantly be watching out for aggressive behavior.  Both will tend to wander off or try to escape to find a mate.   

 

Unless you intend to compete in shows where the dogs must not be spayed or neutered, there is no reason not to.  You end up with a much better pet, focused more on YOU than other dogs.  There are other health reasons as well which you can read about in many of the links regarding this subject such as avoiding some kinds of cancer.  Remember, that just because you think your dog is special, that does not necessarily mean your dog is actually "show material." 

 

If you think you might be able to make BIG MONEY in breeding dogs, think again. There are better "sidelines."  The better dogs are bought from those who show their dogs and don't just breed for money.  Dogs bred to make money tend to not be of the same quality as time is of the essence and any shortcut (inbreeding?) can save time and expense.  That is why many purebred dogs tend to get ill easier or have defects more than the "mutts" at the animal shelters.  You'd also have to always wonder what kind of home your dog might be going to and hope it will never end up in rescue or worse, not be known about but needing rescue.

 

Other "mathmatical" facts to consider: 

Every day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in this country while only 10,000 people are born.
Every year 10-12 million animals are euthanized in shelters for lack of available homes.  That's about 64% of all animals taken into shelters nationwide.

About every 1.5 seconds an animal in a shelter is euthanized.

About one in ten animals born in this country actually end up in a home for their lifetime.       Grim.   Now read the above statistics again and ask yourself whether you think your dog should be spayed or neutered.  It is a loving thing to do. 

 

More advantages - Male:  helps prevent testicular cancer, prostititis, hernias, fighting, running away, marking territory, embarrassing erections.  Female:  helps prevent breast cancer, vaginal problems, uterine prolapse, messy periods, male dogs hanging around, accidental breeding, can add years to life.   BOTH:  riding, sniffing, mounting, licking and frustration on the part of the dog being prevented what its hormones are telling it to do.

 

Much more info about whether or not to spay/neuter your dog is on the LINKS page, plus a list of low cost spay/neuter clinics in the Houston area. 

 

Remember - just ONE female in heat in a whole neighborhood can cause trouble for as far as their noses can smell.