diff --git a/include/sta/tacos/thread.hpp b/include/sta/tacos/thread.hpp
index 94b8aaf..1c9d929 100644
--- a/include/sta/tacos/thread.hpp
+++ b/include/sta/tacos/thread.hpp
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ namespace sta
 
 			void loop() override;
 
+			void start() override;
+
 			/**
 			 * @brief This function is executed first when this thread is started.
 			 */
@@ -158,6 +160,8 @@ namespace sta
 			 * 
 			 */
 			void resetStatus();
+
+			void watchdogIgnore();
 #endif // STA_TACOS_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
 
 			/**
diff --git a/src/thread.cpp b/src/thread.cpp
index 64b967d..9f1f301 100644
--- a/src/thread.cpp
+++ b/src/thread.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,18 @@ namespace sta
 			return running_;
 		}
 
+		void TacosThread::start()
+		{
+			if (getInstance() == NULL)
+			{
+				RtosThread::start();
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				sysNotify(STA_RTOS_THREAD_FLAG_START);
+			}
+		}
+
 		void TacosThread::init() {}
 
 		void TacosThread::loop()
@@ -59,8 +71,11 @@ namespace sta
 				while (!isTerminationRequested())
 				{
 #ifdef STA_TACOS_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
-					// Send a fresh heartbeat signal.
-					heartbeat();
+					if (status_ == ThreadStatus::UNKNOWN)
+					{
+						// Send a fresh heartbeat signal.
+						heartbeat();
+					}
 #endif // STA_TACOS_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
 
 					// Execute user-space implementation.
@@ -116,6 +131,11 @@ namespace sta
 		{
 			status_ = ThreadStatus::UNKNOWN;
 		}
+
+		void TacosThread::watchdogIgnore()
+		{
+			status_ = ThreadStatus::IGNORED;
+		}
 #endif // STA_TACOS_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
 
 		void TacosThread::requestTermination()