Introducing Barkley the Dog
Barkley is a full-bodied Muppet dog character on the children’s television show Sesame Street. He has tan fur and a floppy tongue, but his most distinctive feature is his human-like hands instead of front paws. According to the Heroes Wiki – Fandom (https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Barkley_(Sesame_Street)), Barkley debuted in the premiere episode of Sesame Street’s 10th season in 1978. He was designed by Rollie Krewson to help demonstrate certain skills and activities that would be difficult for the other puppet characters without hands.
With his versatile hands, Barkley can hold objects, use tools, play instruments, and interact with the environment in creative ways. His unique design allows him to participate in skits and demonstrations related to activities like art, music, and cooking. Over the decades, Barkley has remained a memorable Sesame Street character and an important part of the show’s educational mission.
Barkley’s Popularity and Impact
Barkley quickly became a fan favorite after debuting on Sesame Street. His friendly and playful personality endeared him to children, who loved watching his adventures with Big Bird and other residents of Sesame Street. According to the Sesame Street Fandom Wiki, “Barkley remains a popular character and has been featured in books, toys, and other merchandise” (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Barkley).
In addition to being a beloved character, Barkley played an important educational role on the show. He often modeled good behavior, teaching young viewers life lessons about kindness, patience, sharing, and more. As the Heroes Wiki explains, “He is Big Bird’s pet dog…and he is used to demonstrate responsibility” (https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Barkley_(Sesame_Street)). Barkley showed children how to properly care for a pet through feeding, grooming, training, and playing together. His close bond with Big Bird was heartwarming and exemplified the joys of pet ownership.
Barkley’s Relationships with Other Characters
Barkley has formed strong bonds with many of the characters on Sesame Street over the years. One of his closest friendships was with Big Bird. Barkley and Big Bird often played together and enjoyed each other’s company. According to the Muppet Wiki, “Indeed, in the 1993 special Sesame Street Stays Up Late!, Barkley leaves the set with Big Bird at the end of the broadcast day, implying that he is, in fact, Big Bird’s pet” (“Barkley”, 2023).
Another one of Barkley’s good friends was Elmo. Being two of the youngest characters on the show, Elmo and Barkley had a natural connection. They could often be seen playing fetch together and snuggling. Elmo spoke for Barkley, interpreting his barks for the other characters. This showed how close their friendship was and how well Elmo understood Barkley (“Barkley (Sesame Street) – Heroes Wiki”, 2023).
Overall, Barkley was beloved by all the residents of Sesame Street. His friendly, playful nature endeared him to both the human and Muppet characters. Barkley served as a positive role model, demonstrating the importance of building strong bonds, communicating effectively, and bringing joy to those around you. His relationships were a key part of his lasting legacy and impact on the show.
Origins of Barkley’s Character Design
Barkley was designed with human-like hands instead of paws to enable more complex puppetry and interactions on Sesame Street. According to Muppet designer Rollie Krewson, “He was designed with hands because the scripts called for him to do things that would have been very difficult without the use of fingers and thumbs.”
Bringing Barkley to life required innovative puppeteering techniques. His puppeteer Kevin Clash had to coordinate separate controls for the head, mouth, arms, and hands. Clash shared, “Performing Barkley takes focus and practice. His hands allow for very specific and intricate movements, which creates great comedy but requires precision.” The detailed finger and hand controls allowed Barkley to grasp and manipulate objects, type on a typewriter, play instruments like the banjo, and interact with the human cast.
Sources:
https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Barkley
https://www.etsy.com/market/barkley_muppet
Barkley’s Memorable Moments
Barkley has many memorable moments from his time on Sesame Street. Some of his most iconic sketches include participating in songs and dances. In the song “He’s a Dog, and Barkley is His Name” from 1980, Barkley dances along with Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus while singing about being a dog1. Barkley also had a humorous moment trying to eat a phone instead of a bone in an alphabet sketch2. His sloppy eating habits were on full display in a sketch where he ends up with spaghetti all over his face.
Barkley often participated in physical comedy sketches as well. In one sketch, Barkley competes in an obstacle course against a turtle and ends up getting tangled in hurdles. Another classic moment involved Barkley chasing a ball which kept disappearing and reappearing due to magic. These sketches highlighted Barkley’s energetic and goofy personality.
Some of Barkley’s most memorable Sesame Street songs include “Doggie in the Window”, where he howled along, and “The Barkleys of Sesame Street”, where he danced with his fellow dog friends. Overall, Barkley’s antics brought plenty of humor and fun to Sesame Street over the years.
Educational Impact
As one of the earliest Muppet characters on Sesame Street, Barkley played an important role in the show’s mission to provide early childhood education. He taught children basic lessons and values through his relationships with Big Bird and other characters.
According to An Extraordinary Feat of Sesame Street Compassion, Barkley helped demonstrate compassion and acceptance on the show. Although he could not speak, he communicated through pantomime and his interactions with others. This taught children to look beyond disabilities and connect with people through patience and understanding.
Barkley also promoted diversity and inclusion. As an early advocate for disabled individuals on television, Barkley normalized disabilities for young viewers. His presence sent the message that those with disabilities deserve friendship, empathy and respect. Barkley paved the way for characters like Julia, a Muppet with autism introduced in 2015.
Appearances Outside of Sesame Street
In addition to appearing on Sesame Street, Barkley made appearances at public events and in Sesame Street Live shows. According to the Muppet Wiki, Barkley was part of the cast for the very first Sesame Street Live show in 1980 called Sesame Street Live: Sesame Street Goes To The Circus [1]. He continued to be featured in Sesame Street Live shows throughout the 1980s, including Big Bird’s Super Spectacular Totally Amateur Show in 1982 and Big Bird’s Sesame Street Story in 1987.
Outside of the Sesame Street television show and live shows, Barkley made public appearances to help promote Sesame Street. In 1979, he was part of a Sesame Street float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along with Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and other characters [2]. Barkley also attended the White House Easter Egg Roll in 1980, where he met First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
Behind the Scenes with Barkley’s Puppeteer
The talented puppeteer behind Barkley was Brian Muehl, who began operating Barkley in the early 1980s. Muehl brought Barkley to life by operating the full-bodied puppet costume, giving the canine character his distinctive movements and mannerisms.
As a full-bodied Muppet, Barkley required a dedicated puppeteer inside the costume to perform the character. Muehl would position his right arm inside Barkley’s head to control the mouth movements. Barkley’s furry arms were operated by pulling on rods attached to the hands, allowing Barkley to gesticulate as he interacted with characters. The puppeteer’s legs moved Barkley’s own legs from within, enabling him to walk, sit, and run around Sesame Street.
Operating a full-bodied puppet like Barkley took great physicality and coordination. Muehl gave nuanced performances that allowed Barkley to emote and establish relationships with both human actors and fellow Muppets. According to some behind-the-scenes interviews, it was hot and exhausting work moving and vocalizing as Barkley, but Muehl’s acting helped make the character feel real and endearing.
Later Years and Legacy
Although Barkley was a beloved character on Sesame Street for over 15 years, his role started to diminish in the early 2000s. As the show began introducing more human characters and phasing out some of the classic Muppet characters, Barkley made fewer appearances over the next several years.
According to sources, Barkley’s last major role was in the Season 33 premiere in 2002, where he took part in a parody of American Idol called “American Igor” (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Barkley). After that episode, he was relegated to mostly background roles and cameo appearances. By 2006, Barkley was no longer part of the core Sesame Street cast.
While Barkley himself eventually disappeared from the show, his legacy lives on. As one of the original canine characters, along with Rowlf the Dog, Barkley helped pave the way for future Muppet dogs on Sesame Street. His playful personality and friendly demeanor endeared him to generations of viewers. Barkley also introduced concepts like responsibility and caring for pets to young audiences in his plotlines over the years.
Even though he’s no longer on the show, Barkley’s enduring popularity is clear – his vintage toys and puppets remain sought-after items among collectors. He’ll always be remembered by longtime fans as a cherished part of Sesame Street’s history.
The Future of Barkley
Although Barkley has not been featured regularly on Sesame Street in recent years, there is still potential for the character to return and be utilized in new ways. According to the Muppet Wiki, there are no confirmed plans for Barkley to make a comeback1. However, given his enduring popularity and recognition, it’s certainly possible he could reappear for special occasions or cameos.
If Barkley returns to Sesame Street, there are many fresh opportunities to highlight his character. For example, he could star in animated segments, musical numbers, or educational videos about topics like pet care, emotions, and friendship. The writers could develop Barkley’s relationships with other characters by pairing him with newer Muppets. He could also take on exciting new roles like a service dog, therapy dog, or rescue dog. While staying true to his signature friendly and energetic personality, Barkley has the flexibility to grow and evolve if given another chance to shine on Sesame Street.
Ultimately, whether Barkley returns in puppet form or lives on through references and nostalgia, his legacy as one of Sesame Street’s most beloved animal characters seems assured. For many fans, Barkley will always represent the best of Sesame Street – a fun, furry friend who brought joy and laughter to generations of children.