Many people do not take advantage of the fact that you can create similarities for the dog between the start of the track and restarts at the articles. As we have talked about earlier, and hopefully you will have practiced the baited tail start. This gives us the foundation for both the start and later the restart.
When you approach the dog for the start of the track, several things should have already happened. The dog should have been given a chance to relieve himself (then put back in the truck - optional, dedending on the dog). The dog should have been cued at the truck. See The Setup. Whatever equipment you are using should be on the dog before you report in to the judge. As you approach the flag you are allowed to give a command to your dog, such as platz or sitz up to 2 meters from the start. This may be changing to 3 meters, but I don't think it has been passed yet. This is the point at which you begin to pattern the dog to approach the pad the way you want, not like some jackrabbit kangaroo hauling you behind. When you were teaching the young dog to work scent pads we did not ask for any obedience in the form of a platz before he started because we wanted no pressure on the dog, no stress, just drive and enthusiasm. But there comes a time after you have been doing some tracks, and this is different for every dog, that you should begin developing the routine that you will use for the rest of his tracking career (except for the FH2). I use the platz command at this point, but you may use sit, though I don't recommend it.
When the dog is in the platz position waiting to start the track, and after I set the line where I want it (under the leg or attached to the harness - my dog tracks both ways) I will drop some food on the already baited tail in front of the dog (a practice you fade in time then reinforce intermitently). I then stand at the dog's rear (something I believe will be requried in the near future though it is not now). Then I make him look at me before I release him to begin tracking. This is something I do at every start and at every article. I use the same command I use for focus in obedience. It teaches the dog he has to do something very specific before he may begin tracking. Not only does this improve stability, it helps build drive during the track. I think this is a big factor in getting super starts and restarts. The dog learns a behavior that gets him released -- looking at you. He learns to hold his position until you release him and, if done as shown, gets his nose down in the grass/dirt immediately without a rocket restart - a prerequisite for V tracks. The treats after the platz for artices are faded and then reinforced intermittently (as are so many things in training).
These videos show Pax and Brix at early stages of both the start version of the exercise and the restarts. These starts were all done on baited tails.
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