I had given up on tracking because I thought he wouldn't be good for it.
I was fortunate enough to have someone willing to spend the time helping a small group of us get stated... They had previous experience with non-traditional tracking dogs (whippets!) and were game for anything (I started tracking with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier)... so when I showed up with a DDB they just viewed it as a challenge.
Mastiffs are GREAT for it. Their slobbery jowls act as a scent-funnel straight to the nose and thy will ground scent. You do, however, have to convince them that this is the BEST THING EVER and the really want to do it. Barrett will literally drag me to the start line.
I tried an online class (FDSA) where you submitted video homework... you can pay a lot less and just observe the class, but I found my progress was more rapid when I had homework to do.
Even if you can talk a few other people into doing tracking with you... all you need is a group of three or four and everything becomes easier. I started with hide and seek games, then did some footstep tracking and article work before I started trying real tracks. Sometimes it takes a while for it to click with the dog, but when it does...