Icarus has been treated for giardia, but the parasite has returned, and treatment is ongoing. Learn more about giardia here.

In mythology, when Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wings melted, and he met a very bad end. Well, our Icarus nearly met a bad end, but through the kindness and generosity of the FBRN family, he is here to fly another day.

Icarus is a happy, healthy and active frog who is looking for a home that can provide him with lots of love and playtime. He is one of the few frogs who has expressed a favorite color (fire engine red) and is also one of those elusive frogtrievers we sometimes see. He came to us when his previous owner could not afford bowel obstruction surgery after he mistook his toy as an edible snack. He is a handsome, neutered 2 year-old who has been healthy during his time in foster care. He is currently on a grain-free diet as he has some allergies and he did have a severe, life-threatening reaction to the rabies vaccine, so he will not be able to have it again. He should be supervised while playing with toys so he doesn’t confuse them with food. He also had giardia when he first arrived, but he is all clear now.

Icarus would like to be in charge if he could, so he will need a home that sets consistent guidelines for him. He does not live with children now, but could have human siblings that are over ten and on the dog-savvy side as Icarus would love to be in charge and boss them around. He would like cats or any other small furry creature – as an appetizer- so they are a definite NO! Icarus has two foster canine siblings and still seems to be learning his way when it comes to playing. He tends to play rough and try to boss the other dogs around. He would probably be happier as an “only”, although if his owner were firm and consistent, other dogs might be a possibility.

When it comes to what Icarus likes to do with his day, his foster mom has this to say: “Icarus is an extremely active, busy mischief maker. He is a handful and a ball of energy. He does everything with exuberant gusto. He’s the first one at the door when we say walk. He’s learning the routine here and constantly trying to predict what is going to happen next, so he can be the first to do it. He is very dominant and very much wants to be the leader, but no one here is following. He is very smart and learns quickly but obedience is something he is working on. He does need regular exercise. Here he usually gets a 1 mile walk in the morning, a short walk with the dog walker at midday, and a longer 2 mile walk in the afternoon/evening. He also likes to play ball in the backyard and will do that until sufficiently tired.”

Icarus has wonderful house manners. He is 100% housebroken and loves his crate. He loves his crate so much he sleeps in it and often returns to his crate in the morning after a brief walk. He is often the first to bed after having had a busy day and likes to snuggle up in his crate. He is working on obedience and has a good grasp of sit and down as well as leave it and drop it. As with every aspect of Icarus’s life, he needs to be reminded frequently that he does not need to be in charge, and, in fact, things run smoother when he is not. He is not food or toy aggressive, although he is still learning to share. In his prior life, he was a spoiled only dog, so living with others is tough for this frog!

Icarus will need his own house and fenced yard. He loves balls, especially tennis balls, as well as his Nylabone toys. Given his propensity for eating non-edibles he should stick with Nylabones or similar toys. He plays with stuffies only with supervision. He has a great imagination and amuses himself quite nicely with his toys.

Given Icarus’s need for exercise and stimulation, he will do best in home with like-minded people. He would prefer someone who is home all day to provide him with the exercise and fun he needs to stay out of trouble. He will need a person committed to continuing his obedience training and reminding him that he is not in charge. His person will need to be firm and consistent in setting boundaries for this cutie.

His foster family also sent along these words in describing Icarus:

“Icarus is very smart and has learned a lot since he has been here and will soon have a basic obedience class under his belt. He is house trained, is great in his crate, and is very active and playful. He transitions well from play time to quiet time but not always on his own. He loves his toys. He is has learned to walk better on leash while in his foster home. He is full of energy and is ready to try anything. I think with the right training he would be great at flyball or agility as he has lots of confidence and ability. He has lots of energy and enthusiasm. He thrives on routine and once he has tired for the day, he loves to snuggle up with his favorite Nylabone and his people for a little evening TV.

• Early riser - Icarus likes to get up early and go to bed early. He is very snuggly and playful when he first wakes up. He likes to roll on the carpet on his back.

• Getting down to ‘business’ – in the morning he does his ‘business’ quickly and heads back in to go back to bed until his people get up. Most mornings he will stay in his crate even if the door is open and stay quiet.

• Time for bed – at night, Icarus will head up to bed. He tends to want to wait to shepherd his people up to bed. He is one of the first to go into his crate and go to bed.

• Loves playing ball – good about dropping it and will place it where you point.

• Very smart – he is very smart and looks to his leader for direction.

• Car rides – he likes riding in the car, but must be restrained because he tends to walk around the inside of the car. Once restrained he is totally comfortable and likes riding in the middle of the back seat and looking ahead.

We just know there is a family out there looking for a frog like Icarus. He will provide his family with years of love, loyalty and fun if given the chance. If you are that family, please fill out an application and tell him why.

Icarus is enjoying the cherry blossoms in Northern Virginia. Plan on winging or driving your way there to fetch him, as he will not be shipped.

APPLY FOR ME HERE!