Recording sessions took place from 1999 to 2000, with Lil' Bow Wow's mentor Jermaine Dupri primarily producing the album, and Xscape, Jagged Edge, Da Brat and Snoop Dogg, among others, appearing as guests.

Beware of Dog received generally positive reviews from music critics and was also commercially successful, debuting at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling 101,000 copies in the first week.

The album's lead single "Bounce with Me", released on August 8, 2000, features guest vocals from American R&B group Xscape, and was also included on the soundtrack for the film Big Momma's House (2000).

The album's second single "Bow Wow (That's My Name)", released on October 17, 2000, features a guest verse from fellow rapper Snoop Dogg.

AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier praised the tracks for encapsulating the album with endearing charm in its pop-rap material despite doubting Lil Bow Wow's actual writing credits, concluding that "All the same, there's no denying the charm and vocal dexterity of Lil Bow Wow, who proves himself genuinely talented, if not exactly a prodigy.