During his college days at West Virginia University as a part of the Pre-Vet courses, he was able to participate in a wide range of veterinary procedures, even surgeries, with the guidance of his professors who owned their own clinics. Sam graduated with multiple Dean’s List achievements throughout college and earning a BSA in Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Sam also has years of experience working as a veterinary assistant performing a large variety of procedures and tests in vet hospitals. It wasn’t until the beginning of his junior year of college in 2009 that he was exposed to formal dog training. WVU offered a Service Dog Training class that he enrolled in as a foster home for one of the dogs; he immediately fell in love with the program. After receiving great reviews of his training technique and motivation to help the dogs succeed, the head trainer of the program asked him to continue fostering and training his dog for an additional year until the dog had completed its training. The dog, Judd, that Sam trained graduated was successfully placed in West Virginia with a client working as a mobility assistance dog.