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 declared Keep the Dog's album a must-have for fans of Frith's livelier, more energetic compositions. Nicole V. Gagné praised Keep the Dog's music for taking Skeleton Crew's precision and extended, non-stop playing to new heights.