“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This poetic quote, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, contains an intuitive truth we all know. It hurts to compare ourselves to others. Yet, we almost all do it. Why?

When we compare ourselves to others, we are allowing them to drive our behavior.

Comparison can be motivating, pushing us to match a peer’s success in the agility ring or following someone’s example in overcoming a challenge with their dog’s weave or start line.

But it can also be ugly. Instead, you might be overcome with envy, guilt, self-doubt or even despair. For example, a friend might have the seemingly perfect puppy and you’re struggling with off-lead recalls, aggressive behavior, and no retrieve at all! Or perhaps another friend is getting lots of attention on her social media posts and you’re not, leaving you feeling left-out and fill of self-doubt about why your posts are being ignored. Maybe you didn’t get the working spot you really wanted in an upcoming seminar. You start to...