SummaryA post hoc analysis of the metabolizable energy (ME) intake of privately owned pet dogs from the authors' nutrition consultation practice (Years 2007–2011) was carried out to identify if currentMErecommendations are suitable for pet dogs. Data on 586 adult dogs were available (median age 5.5, median deviation from ideal weight 0.0), 55 of them were healthy; the others had various diseases. For ration calculation, a standardized questionnaire and the software diet‐check Munich™was used.MEwas predicted according toNRC(2006). Data were evaluated for the factors disease, breed, size, age, gender and type of feeding. The meanMEintake of all adult dogs amounted to 0.410 ± 0.121MJ/kg metabolic body weight (BW0.75) (n = 586). There was no effect of size and disease. Overweight dogs ate 0.360 ± 0.121MJ/kgBW0.75, and underweight dogs ate 0.494 ± 0.159MJ/kgBW0.75. Older dogs (>7 years,n = 149, 0.389 ± 0.105MJ/kgBW0.75) had a lowerMEintake than younger ones (n = 313, 0.419 ± 0.121MJ/kgBW0.75), and intact males had a higherMEintake than the others (p < 0.001). Some breeds were above average: Jack Russell Terrier, Dalmatian, small Munsterlander and Magyar Viszla, Bearded Collies, Sight Hounds, German Boxers, English foxhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Flat‐Coated Retrievers with a meanMEintake of 0.473 ± 0.121MJ/kgBW0.75. The following breeds were below average: Dachshunds, Bichons, West highland White Terrier, Collies except Bearded Collies, Airedale Terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Golden Retrievers with a meanMEintake of 0.343 ± 0.096MJ/kgBW0.75. The mean maintenance energy requirements of pet dogs are similar to that of kennel dogs which do not exercise very much. These results suggest that opportunity and stimulus to exercise provided for pet dogs are lower than for kennel dogs. Lower activity in pet dogs may reduce part of potential effects of breed, medical history and age groups.