I have read the messages on the forum PRICES and I must strongly object to those people that think by asking the price from a breeder you are doing something wrong!
My husband and I are retired and money is tight,we have a mini schnauzer which we bought 6 years ago for £200.00 and would dearly love a companion for him.We have to have a dog which does not shed it's coat because of allergies so have been looking for a westie or bichon. Of couse I have to enquire of the cost especially as some of them are miles from where we live.
We would have a cross or a dog from a rescue.... papers and kennel club registration mean absolutely nothing to us we are dog lovers and do not want to make any gains from our pets.
I believe like everything else in this world at the moment, money is the most important thing to many people and breeding pedigee dogs for exhuberant amounts is no exception!
I might add that only one breeder I have contacted, was interested in the enviroment the pup would be living.I know that any dog we had would have the most loving happy life imaginable.

NO-ONE minds being asked the price, of course you need to know it- "BUT" not if its the very "FIRST" thing that comes out of your mouth, --------imagine the phone rings, you pick it up and say hello, the only reply you get is "HOW MUCH ARE YOUR PUPS" not hello im mr/mrs such and such, i was wondering if you had a litter, if so is there any available, and perhaps then check out the price. . -------its surely manners to introduce yourselves, check there is actually a puppy, "BEFORE" asking the price,

Susan, the only thing people disagree with is whether price should be the first question you ask! Everyone agrees it is a factor (an important factor!) in the equation, and of course the question of price will arise. But there are other things as important to the buyer (or should be, such as the health of the sire and dam, and have the pups had the hereditary checks available at their age, their worming, any vaccinations, whether they are registered/tattooed/chipped etc), so that the breeder can, over the phone, get an idea whether this is a genuine enquiry or a time-waster.
:)

This post should have been added to the already active thread on this subject.