Reviewing the album at AllMusic, François Couture opined that it is "a must" for enthusiasts of Frith's "livelier, more vivacious writing". Writing in Sonic Transports: New Frontiers in Our Music (1990), Nicole V. Gagné said Keep the Dog's music takes Skeleton Crew's "precision and extended, non-stop playing to epic heights".
François Couture and Nicole V. Gagné both praise Keep the Dog's album for its connection to Frith's style and Skeleton Crew's musical approach.