Lack of clarity can kill motivation

This week I was working Belle, an 8-month-old black Lab, and we are working her foundations in detection. She came to the session motivated, engaged, ready to work. Tail wagging, eyes bright, all the good stuff.

And then… she checked out.

Not because she was tired.

Not because she lacked drive.

Not because she suddenly decided detection wasn’t her thing.

Because I got unclear.

I set several hides that made sense in my head but didn’t translate cleanly in the environment. We were working in a big box store and odor moves weird in those locations. She was climbing through items on the shelves trying to chase down odor. The odor picture was fuzzy. Belle worked really hard, did a lot of sniffing, tried to locate the strongest source of odor, then stopped. She did exactly what young dogs do when the information stops making sense: she disengaged.

This is a me problem, not a her problem

I set a hide above her pay grade unintentionally and didn't catch it until it was 'too late'.

Did I break her? No.

The next couple of rounds when we go out I will make sure to set concentrated accessible hides for her so we regain clarity in the task.

When I'm building a dog, motivation can’t compensate for confusion. Now before anyone launches into a thought of "your dog doesn't have enough drive", my reply is...this is a PUPPY. I don't even know what gerbil I'm working with today. That consistency is built.

So we reset. Simplified the picture. Cleaned up the hide. Gave her something she could solve. And just like that, Belle was back in the game. Same dog. Same motivation.

Different clarity.

This is a good reminder for when I'm having motivation issues.

When progress stalls, don’t ask for more effort first.

Ask if you know where you are going and what might be in the way of progress.

Motivation doesn’t create clarity.

Clarity creates progress.

Progress fuels motivation.

That order matters.

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The 2026 Cohort of the K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy has just started. If you want to get in on this year, I'm taking applications through the end of the month! www.k9sensus.org/ddta

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