Reality TV beauty Kay Cappucchio (guest star Hilarie Burton) is in the house at the Sunfair Kennel Dog Show. She’s promoting her new “Guilty Pleasures” perfume alongside her manager/boyfriend Reggie Starr (guest star Justin Hartley). Out on the floor, famed dog trainer Francisco Pilar makes his choice for Best in Show. After the competition, Francisco is strangled to death with a leash. Now Castle and Beckett must collar a cold-blooded killer.

Kay Cappucchio was caught on camera leaving Francisco’s dressing room around the time of the murder. You just can’t escape the watchful eyes of fans and paparazzi. This is something Castle learns when eager shutterbugs mistake him for Jason Bateman. Beckett laughs pretty darn hard at this one.

Kay Cappucchio had hired Francisco to do some behavior training with her dog, Lolita. She says the victim was already dead when she stopped by his room. Francisco was reportedly paranoid that Kay was working with someone. Rumors are that the guy may have been taking bribes to fix dog shows. That could explain the string of cash deposits he’d been making, as well the many “underdog” winners he’d been selecting lately.

The victim’s only family is his loyal pooch, Royal, who is seen pawing at the floor after the murder. Castle convinces Beckett to keep the dog at the precinct as a temporary mascot. Ryan loses at roshambo (aka Rock-Paper-Scissors) to fetch some dog food while Castle and Beckett question Francisco’s therapist. As it turns out, Dr. Patty Barker is actually Royal’s therapist. They should have known she was a dog shrink with a name like “Barker.”