Australia has a habit of renaming things. Thongs are flip-flops, arvo is afternoon, and — if you're shopping for a dog — the breed you've been researching under one name might be listed by breeders here under something entirely different.
If you've searched for a Cavapoo, a Goldendoodle, or a Maltipoo and come up empty, this guide is for you. These dogs exist in Australia. They're just called something else.
The Short Explanation
Most of the naming differences involve Poodle crossbreeds — the most popular category of designer dogs in Australia. When these crossbreeds emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, breeders in different countries independently coined their own names. American and British registries locked in one set of names; Australian breeders developed their own, often following a consistent "-oodle" or "-poo" pattern that differs from either.
The result: the same dog, bred the same way, from the same parent breeds, carrying three different names depending on which side of the planet the breeder lives on.
The Key Name Differences
Cavoodle (Australia) = Cavapoo (US & UK)
The most searched crossbreed in Australia goes by the name Cavoodle — a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel crossed with a Poodle. In North America and the UK, the same dog is universally called the Cavapoo. Same parents, same temperament, same low-shedding coat. The only difference is geography.
Australian breeders adopted the "-oodle" suffix (Cav + oodle), while American breeders went with the "-poo" portmanteau (Cav + poo). Neither is more correct — but if you're searching for one in Australia, Cavoodle is the term you need.
Spoodle (Australia) = Springerdoodle (US) = Sproodle (UK)
The Spoodle is a Springer Spaniel crossed with a Poodle — an energetic, intelligent, highly affectionate crossbreed that thrives in active households. Americans call it the Springerdoodle; the British compress it to Sproodle. Australian breeders simply call it the Spoodle.
This one is particularly confusing for searchers because all three names are in active use, and a search for one rarely surfaces results using another.
Groodle (Australia) = Goldendoodle (US & UK)
The Golden Retriever × Poodle cross is one of the most popular family dogs in the world. In Australia, you'll find it listed almost exclusively as the Groodle. Internationally, the name Goldendoodle dominates — and it's the name most Australians encounter first when researching the breed online.
Our Goldendoodle breed profile covers everything you need to know — the same dog your Australian breeder will call a Groodle.
Moodle (Australia) = Maltipoo (US & UK)
The Maltese × Toy Poodle cross is a tiny, gentle, low-shedding companion dog. In Australia it's known as the Moodle; everywhere else it goes by Maltipoo. The Australian name has been in use since at least the early 2000s and is now the standard term among local breeders and rescue groups.
See the full profile on our Maltipoo breed page — all the same information applies whether you call it a Moodle or a Maltipoo.
Some Names Stay the Same
Not every crossbreed got renamed at the border. A few names are consistent across all three markets:
- Labradoodle — the original designer dog, and its name stuck globally. One of the few that's identical in Australia, the US, and the UK.
- Schnoodle (Schnauzer × Poodle) — consistent worldwide.
- Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog × Poodle) — same everywhere.
- Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel × Poodle) — used in Australia and the UK; Americans sometimes say Cockapoo or Cockadoodle, but the names largely overlap.
Why Does This Happen?
Designer dog breeds aren't recognised by major kennel clubs (the ANKC in Australia, the AKC in the US, the Kennel Club in the UK), so there's no central body that standardises names across borders. Breeders in each country simply coined their own terms, those terms spread through local communities and online groups, and by the time anyone noticed the inconsistency, both names were firmly established.
Australia's preference for the "-oodle" suffix is partly linguistic habit and partly the influence of early breeders who favoured that pattern. The same instinct that turned "Cavalier + Poodle" into "Cavoodle" also turned "Golden + Poodle" into "Groodle" — a tidy, two-syllable name that sounds distinctly Australian.
What This Means When You're Searching for a Breeder
If you're based in Australia and searching for a Cavapoo, Goldendoodle, or Maltipoo breeder, you may find fewer results than expected — or results from overseas breeders who aren't relevant to you. Try the Australian name instead: Cavoodle, Groodle, or Moodle. You'll immediately surface a completely different (and more relevant) set of results.
Conversely, if you're researching a breed using Australian names and want to read international studies, veterinary literature, or overseas owner communities, switching to the US name will open up a much larger pool of information.
Find Your Breed — Whatever It's Called
Our breed database includes all of these crossbreeds under their most commonly searched names, with profiles covering temperament, size, grooming needs, and compatibility scores. Whether you call it a Cavoodle or a Cavapoo, a Spoodle or a Springerdoodle, the breed information is the same.
Not sure which crossbreed suits your lifestyle? Our three-minute breed matching quiz compares your home, energy level, and family situation against every breed in our database — and gives you a personalised shortlist regardless of what name you use to search.