diff --git a/src/batdetect2/cli/train.py b/src/batdetect2/cli/train.py
index 330c0c1..c735576 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/cli/train.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/cli/train.py
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ from batdetect2.train import (
 )
 from batdetect2.train.dataset import list_preprocessed_files
 
-__all__ = [
-    "train_command",
-]
+__all__ = ["train_command"]
 
 
 @cli.command(name="train")
@@ -51,19 +49,35 @@ def train_command(
         log_level = "DEBUG"
     logger.add(sys.stderr, level=log_level)
 
-    logger.info("Starting training!")
+    logger.info("Initiating training process...")
 
+    logger.info("Loading training configuration...")
     conf = (
         load_full_training_config(config, field=config_field)
         if config is not None
         else FullTrainingConfig()
     )
 
+    logger.info("Scanning for training and validation data...")
     train_examples = list_preprocessed_files(train_dir)
-    val_examples = (
-        list_preprocessed_files(val_dir) if val_dir is not None else None
+    logger.debug(
+        "Found {num_files} training examples in {path}",
+        num_files=len(train_examples),
+        path=train_dir,
     )
 
+    val_examples = None
+    if val_dir is not None:
+        val_examples = list_preprocessed_files(val_dir)
+        logger.debug(
+            "Found {num_files} validation examples in {path}",
+            num_files=len(val_examples),
+            path=val_dir,
+        )
+    else:
+        logger.debug("No validation directory provided.")
+
+    logger.info("Configuration and data loaded. Starting training...")
     train(
         train_examples=train_examples,
         val_examples=val_examples,
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/configs.py b/src/batdetect2/configs.py
index 857170e..7399d6e 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/configs.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/configs.py
@@ -29,6 +29,36 @@ class BaseConfig(BaseModel):
 
     model_config = ConfigDict(extra="ignore")
 
+    def to_yaml_string(
+        self,
+        exclude_none: bool = False,
+        exclude_unset: bool = False,
+        exclude_defaults: bool = False,
+    ) -> str:
+        """Converts the Pydantic model instance to a YAML string.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        exclude_none : bool, default=False
+            Whether to exclude fields whose value is `None`.
+        exclude_unset : bool, default=False
+            Whether to exclude fields that were not explicitly set.
+        exclude_defaults : bool, default=False
+            Whether to exclude fields whose value is the default value.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        str
+            A YAML string representation of the model.
+        """
+        return yaml.dump(
+            self.model_dump(
+                exclude_none=exclude_none,
+                exclude_unset=exclude_unset,
+                exclude_defaults=exclude_defaults,
+            )
+        )
+
 
 T = TypeVar("T", bound=BaseModel)
 
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/models/__init__.py b/src/batdetect2/models/__init__.py
index daa5ad6..7d6fb9f 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/models/__init__.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/models/__init__.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ provided here.
 
 from typing import Optional
 
+from loguru import logger
+
 from batdetect2.models.backbones import (
     Backbone,
     BackboneConfig,
@@ -131,5 +133,10 @@ def build_model(
         construction of the backbone or detector components (e.g., incompatible
         configurations, invalid parameters).
     """
-    backbone = build_backbone(config or BackboneConfig())
+    config = config or BackboneConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building model with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
+    backbone = build_backbone(config)
     return build_detector(num_classes, backbone)
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/models/decoder.py b/src/batdetect2/models/decoder.py
index c3deed7..270fc9d 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/models/decoder.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/models/decoder.py
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ from torch import nn
 
 from batdetect2.configs import BaseConfig
 from batdetect2.models.blocks import (
-    LayerGroupConfig,
     ConvConfig,
     FreqCoordConvUpConfig,
+    LayerGroupConfig,
     StandardConvUpConfig,
     build_layer_from_config,
 )
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/models/encoder.py b/src/batdetect2/models/encoder.py
index 91087cb..9bb13e5 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/models/encoder.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/models/encoder.py
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ from torch import nn
 
 from batdetect2.configs import BaseConfig
 from batdetect2.models.blocks import (
-    LayerGroupConfig,
     ConvConfig,
     FreqCoordConvDownConfig,
+    LayerGroupConfig,
     StandardConvDownConfig,
     build_layer_from_config,
 )
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/postprocess/__init__.py b/src/batdetect2/postprocess/__init__.py
index f6f84ac..cf93b0c 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/postprocess/__init__.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/postprocess/__init__.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ It also re-exports key components from submodules for convenience.
 from typing import List, Optional
 
 import xarray as xr
+from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
 from soundevent import data
 
@@ -203,9 +204,14 @@ def build_postprocessor(
     PostprocessorProtocol
         An initialized `Postprocessor` instance ready to process model outputs.
     """
+    config = config or PostprocessConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building postprocessor with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
     return Postprocessor(
         targets=targets,
-        config=config or PostprocessConfig(),
+        config=config,
         min_freq=min_freq,
         max_freq=max_freq,
     )
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/preprocess/__init__.py b/src/batdetect2/preprocess/__init__.py
index f27b591..fe872c0 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/preprocess/__init__.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/preprocess/__init__.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from typing import Optional, Union
 
 import numpy as np
 import xarray as xr
+from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
 from soundevent import data
 
@@ -429,6 +430,10 @@ def build_preprocessor(
         according to the configuration.
     """
     config = config or PreprocessingConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building preprocessor with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
 
     default_samplerate = (
         config.audio.resample.samplerate
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/targets/__init__.py b/src/batdetect2/targets/__init__.py
index 6f9cfec..1c50690 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/targets/__init__.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/targets/__init__.py
@@ -573,6 +573,10 @@ def build_targets(
         If dynamic import of a derivation function fails (when configured).
     """
     config = config or DEFAULT_TARGET_CONFIG
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building targets with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
 
     filter_fn = (
         build_sound_event_filter(
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/targets/filtering.py b/src/batdetect2/targets/filtering.py
index 4f30dc8..28e9c43 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/targets/filtering.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/targets/filtering.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ from batdetect2.configs import BaseConfig, load_config
 from batdetect2.targets.terms import (
     TagInfo,
     TermRegistry,
-    get_tag_from_info,
     default_term_registry,
+    get_tag_from_info,
 )
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/augmentations.py b/src/batdetect2/train/augmentations.py
index 6930c97..6c08f31 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/augmentations.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/augmentations.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from typing import Annotated, Callable, List, Literal, Optional, Union
 
 import numpy as np
 import xarray as xr
+from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
 from soundevent import arrays, data
 
@@ -851,6 +852,11 @@ def build_augmentations(
     """
     config = config or DEFAULT_AUGMENTATION_CONFIG
 
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building augmentations with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
+
     augmentations = []
 
     for step_config in config.steps:
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/clips.py b/src/batdetect2/train/clips.py
index 7debd13..87ee673 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/clips.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/clips.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from typing import Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 import numpy as np
 import xarray as xr
+from loguru import logger
 from soundevent import arrays
 
 from batdetect2.configs import BaseConfig
@@ -74,6 +75,10 @@ def build_clipper(
     random: Optional[bool] = None,
 ) -> ClipperProtocol:
     config = config or ClipingConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building clipper with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
     return Clipper(
         duration=config.duration,
         max_empty=config.max_empty,
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/labels.py b/src/batdetect2/train/labels.py
index 48a1383..642e71e 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/labels.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/labels.py
@@ -93,10 +93,15 @@ def build_clip_labeler(
         A function that accepts a `data.ClipAnnotation` and `xr.DataArray`
         (spectrogram) and returns the generated `Heatmaps`.
     """
+    config = config or LabelConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building clip labeler with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
     return partial(
         generate_clip_label,
         targets=targets,
-        config=config or LabelConfig(),
+        config=config,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/logging.py b/src/batdetect2/train/logging.py
index 26fa64d..a7658a0 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/logging.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/logging.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from typing import Annotated, Any, Literal, Optional, Union
 
 from lightning.pytorch.loggers import Logger
+from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
 
 from batdetect2.configs import BaseConfig
@@ -129,6 +130,10 @@ def build_logger(config: LoggerConfig) -> Logger:
     """
     Creates a logger instance from a validated Pydantic config object.
     """
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building logger with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
     logger_type = config.logger_type
 
     if logger_type not in LOGGER_FACTORY:
@@ -137,4 +142,3 @@ def build_logger(config: LoggerConfig) -> Logger:
     creation_func = LOGGER_FACTORY[logger_type]
 
     return creation_func(config)
-
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/losses.py b/src/batdetect2/train/losses.py
index b4083bb..a93b4ea 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/losses.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/losses.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from typing import Optional
 import numpy as np
 import torch
 import torch.nn.functional as F
+from loguru import logger
 from pydantic import Field
 from torch import nn
 
@@ -451,6 +452,10 @@ def build_loss(
         An initialized `LossFunction` module ready for training.
     """
     config = config or LossConfig()
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building loss with config: \n{}",
+        lambda: config.to_yaml_string(),
+    )
 
     class_weights_tensor = (
         torch.tensor(class_weights) if class_weights else None
diff --git a/src/batdetect2/train/train.py b/src/batdetect2/train/train.py
index dce0221..01cb4d9 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/train/train.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/train/train.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import List, Optional
 
+import yaml
 from lightning import Trainer
 from lightning.pytorch.callbacks import Callback
+from loguru import logger
 from soundevent import data
 from torch.utils.data import DataLoader
 
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ def train(
     conf = config or FullTrainingConfig()
 
     if model_path is not None:
+        logger.debug("Loading model from: {path}", path=model_path)
         module = TrainingModule.load_from_checkpoint(model_path)  # type: ignore
     else:
         module = TrainingModule(conf)
@@ -75,11 +78,13 @@ def train(
         else None
     )
 
+    logger.info("Starting main training loop...")
     trainer.fit(
         module,
         train_dataloaders=train_dataloader,
         val_dataloaders=val_dataloader,
     )
+    logger.info("Training complete.")
 
 
 def build_trainer_callbacks(targets: TargetProtocol) -> List[Callback]:
@@ -103,6 +108,10 @@ def build_trainer(
     trainer_conf = PLTrainerConfig.model_validate(
         conf.train.model_dump(mode="python")
     )
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Building trainer with config: \n{config}",
+        config=lambda: trainer_conf.to_yaml_string(exclude_none=True),
+    )
     return Trainer(
         **trainer_conf.model_dump(exclude_none=True),
         val_check_interval=conf.train.val_check_interval,
@@ -117,12 +126,23 @@ def build_train_loader(
     config: TrainingConfig,
     num_workers: Optional[int] = None,
 ) -> DataLoader:
+    logger.info("Building training data loader...")
     train_dataset = build_train_dataset(
         train_examples,
         preprocessor=preprocessor,
         config=config,
     )
-
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Training data loader config: \n{}",
+        lambda: yaml.dump(
+            {
+                "batch_size": config.batch_size,
+                "shuffle": True,
+                "num_workers": num_workers or 0,
+                "collate_fn": str(collate_fn),
+            }
+        ),
+    )
     return DataLoader(
         train_dataset,
         batch_size=config.batch_size,
@@ -137,10 +157,22 @@ def build_val_loader(
     config: TrainingConfig,
     num_workers: Optional[int] = None,
 ):
+    logger.info("Building validation data loader...")
     val_dataset = build_val_dataset(
         val_examples,
         config=config,
     )
+    logger.opt(lazy=True).debug(
+        "Validation data loader config: \n{}",
+        lambda: yaml.dump(
+            {
+                "batch_size": config.batch_size,
+                "shuffle": False,
+                "num_workers": num_workers or 0,
+                "collate_fn": str(collate_fn),
+            }
+        ),
+    )
     return DataLoader(
         val_dataset,
         batch_size=config.batch_size,
@@ -155,6 +187,7 @@ def build_train_dataset(
     preprocessor: PreprocessorProtocol,
     config: Optional[TrainingConfig] = None,
 ) -> LabeledDataset:
+    logger.info("Building training dataset...")
     config = config or TrainingConfig()
 
     clipper = build_clipper(config.cliping, random=True)
@@ -164,18 +197,15 @@ def build_train_dataset(
         clipper=clipper,
     )
 
-    logger.debug(
-        "Augmentations config: {}.", config.augmentations
-    )
-    augmentations = (
-        build_augmentations(
+    if config.augmentations and config.augmentations.steps:
+        augmentations = build_augmentations(
             preprocessor,
             config=config.augmentations,
             example_source=random_example_source,
         )
-        if config.augmentations
-        else None
-    )
+    else:
+        logger.debug("No augmentations configured for training dataset.")
+        augmentations = None
 
     return LabeledDataset(
         examples,
@@ -189,6 +219,7 @@ def build_val_dataset(
     config: Optional[TrainingConfig] = None,
     train: bool = True,
 ) -> LabeledDataset:
+    logger.info("Building validation dataset...")
     config = config or TrainingConfig()
     clipper = build_clipper(config.cliping, random=train)
     return LabeledDataset(examples, clipper=clipper)