Playing the part of a dog requires a special talent, but it’s nothing that can’t be mastered after more than a decade of practice.

Comedian Fred Garbo began his career on Sesame Street as Big Bird’s sidekick, Barkley, and to this day, still makes a living inside a dog costume — only now, the dog he performs inside is inflatable.

During one of the vignettes for his internationally sought-after inflatable theater company show, Garbo is pulled out of a trunk in his inflatable dog costume.

“[The dog] is as inanimate as a balloon,” Garbo said. “It’s fun to give it movement.”

Garbo has been giving movement to more than just dogs over his 10-year career in the business of inflatables. During his show, Garbo said he features such objects as inflatable furniture, T.V.s, snowmen and Christmas trees, among others.

Though he’s only been making inflatables for 10 years, Garbo said he’s been a comedian for most of his life. It’s actually his experience in the world of comedy that inspired his idea of making inflatables.

Garbo had been performing clown shows professionally, and even teaching at a clown college for a long time, and although he loved clowning around, he had grown weary of transporting his props to all of his gigs. From this frustration arose his genius idea of inflatable props.

“It was then that I met George York, who could build hot-air balloons,” Garbo said.

With Garbo’s comedy genius and art education, and York’s hot air prowess, the two began building. Together they have built an empire of inflatable materials, 17 of which are used during every show.

Now, Garbo doesn’t have as much problem lugging his props around because they can all be deflated after the shows. However, how Garbo actually inflates his props before and after the show will remain a mystery to his audiences.

“I can’t tell you; it’s a secret,” he said.

Though the process of inflation may be a secret, the fun that is inevitable at each performance is pretty obvious. With his partner, Daielma Santos, Garbo delights audiences with a variety of rolling, gliding, tumbling, juggling, miming, bouncing, quaking and dancing in sync to music.

The clown antics may be Garbo’s specialty, but Santos’ extensive ballet background well-qualifies her for the dancing vignettes.

Before Santos met Garbo, Santos was a professional ballerina who had never done comedy. When they met, Santos was enthralled by Garbo’s inflatable materials, and wanted to be a part of it.

“Most dancers are in the business of look-good business,” Garbo said. “I’m in the look-funny business. [Santos] wanted to look good and funny.”

As a team, they have enthralled audiences across America and abroad.

Garbo said the team has been called to perform in all over Europe, and in places as obscure as Morocco. Garbo said they are well-accepted in these different cultures though, because the uniqueness of the show breaks language and culture barriers.

“It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen because we’ve invented it,” Garbo said. “It doesn’t matter how old or young you are.”

Garbo will be presenting his inflatable show on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Stephens Auditorium. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster locations.