It features spoken word tracks that are influenced by various electronic music genres, such as ambient, techno and trip hop, as well as "straight-on rock songs.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote: "Although Maggie Estep's poetry, prose and songs lose some power when they are not seen live, Love Is a Dog from Hell is a more effective album than her debut, No More Mister Nice Girl.

Estep sounds more comfortable in the studio than before, and the musical backdrops are a little sharper," while also describing her words as "stellar, capturing her acidic wit at its biting best.

"[5] Tom Roe of CMJ also praised the album, stating: "Estep sounds more at home in this environment than making all that pseudo-metal noise."

[3] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau named "Emotional Idiot", "Jenny's Shirt", and "Scab Maids on Speed" as highlights while giving the album an honorable mention in his May 1997 "Consumer Guide" column.