Mrs. Smith's Advice Column

Fine Housekeeping

January Edition

Vol. 150, Issue #3

Grass Pokémon and the Urban Owner:

And Other Starter Trainer Questions

Dear Mrs. Smith,

My late aunt left me her favorite Oddish. I am a night-owl anyways, so Oddish's nocturnal habits doesn't bug me, but...I am a recluse in the city, living in an apartment building with concrete all around me. How am I supposed to take care of a Grass Pokémon?

Desperately yours,

Midnight Oddish

Dear Midnight Oddish,

Thank you for asking how to take care of your aunt's Oddish. It's great that you have something to remember her by. If you are new to raising Pokémon, you couldn't have picked a better choice! I think you'll find Oddish to be a particularly good fit for your city life. Its nocturnal habits will keep you company when you pull those all-nighters, and give you a little bit of greenery that can be hard to find in city life.

I frequently receive concerns about caring for Grass Pokémon, but they are actually one of the easiest Types to care for. Their usually mild temperaments and friendly personalities make them an excellent choice for beginners. To take care of your Oddish, simply buy a pot big enough for your Oddish to comfortably fit into, fill it with quality soil and fertilizer from your local gardening store, and keep the soil moist so your Oddish's roots can easily burrow. Make sure to place the pot near a window so they can soak up all that Vitamin D! If you want to give your Oddish an extra treat, take them to a local garden or park once a week. They'll love burrowing into "fresh" soil!

My only word of caution is to be careful not to yank them out when they're burrowed! Your Oddish's roots can be easily damaged if they're pulled out. Not only that, but wouldn't you be upset if someone woke you from your nap?

Now that we have the basics down, let's talk about evolutions! You don't have to evolve your Pokémon, but if you're interested in becoming a more serious trainer, I would recommend either a Gloom or a Bellosom. If or when your Oddish evolves into Gloom, those trips to the park may have to be more frequent so they can supplement their diet with insects. Alternatively, you can buy worms and crickets from your local pet store. They may not sound tasty to us, but they're an absolute treat for your Pokémon! With regular feedings, your Gloom's infamous strong-smelling nectar shouldn't be a problem, and they'll still be small enough to fit comfortably in your apartment.

If the occasional trips outside grow on you and you decide to move to more open areas, I would suggest investing in a Sun Stone. A Vileplume may be a valid choice if you decide to move to a house with a large backyard, but its considerable size would pose a problem in other living situations. Deciding on a Bellossom would be more suitable for apartment-living. All they need is a Sun Stone to evolve and a window they can dance around!

Dear Mrs. Smith,

I caught my first Pokémon, Pichu, last week. He likes me a lot and I really want to keep him, but Mom's worried that he keeps shocking everyone, and that he'll blow up the house. Can you help, please?

Impatiently waiting,

Picking Pichu

Dear Picking Pichu,

Thank you for reaching out to me, and congratulations on your first lifelong companion! An Electric Pokémon can be challenging for a first-time trainer, but not impossible! My older twin sisters had Plusle and Minun growing up, and our mother was always berating them for overdoing their little light shows, and blowing out our telephone lines.

Fortunately, your Pichu will likely not be blowing out your power lines anytime soon. The reason your Pichu is giving everyone a little jolt is because he's still learning how to control his electricity. Imagine what it was like when you were little and learning how to walk; it takes practice! For Pichu, it's even more difficult because they can be skittish and easily surprised. They're just as scared as you are, if not more!

Fortunately, your Pichu isn't strong enough yet for any accident to be more than just a little jolt. With the proper precautions, he should feel right at home. Make sure to keep him out of the bath and away from other conductive materials, like water or metal, and don't be tempted to nuzzle his cheek-pouches. They may look cute, but they can pack a sting!

There are tricks you can use to help your Pichu control his electricity better. If you see your Pichu getting a little too energetic, remind him with a firm command to calm himself, then guide him through some breathing exercises. (The benefit is you'll learn some relaxing techniques, too!) You can also teach him how to safely discharge energy by building a post wrapped with rubber that your Pichu can rub to let out any extra energy. If your mom is still nervous, you can wear rubber gloves when handling Pichu until he can better control himself. By the time he's ready to evolve into a Pikachu, he should have enough control that you don't have to worry about any more accidental shocks.

It'll take some getting used to, but soon he'll be another member of the family. Your mom can rest at ease!

Dear Mrs. Smith,

My family just adopted our first Growlithe! He's only recently hatched, but my kids are already taking his training seriously. But he's a territorial little thing! He barks and bites our guests' pants leg whenever they come over! The little thing is adorable now, but he won't be when his teeth get sharper! Please help!

Waiting and staying,

Guarding Growlithe

Dear Guarding Growlithe,

How exciting to have a new family pet! Growlithe are loyal companions who will love you for life! I remember my first puppy, Doria. He would love to chase the Zigzagoon in the yard (and honestly, so did I). My favorite memory was curling up beside him when I went to bed those cold winter nights. He was always a space heater, and would keep me warm no matter how much the wind howled outside.

Growlithe were bred to be guard dogs, so they are known for being territorial. Great when you're a trainer or a police officer, but not so great when you have guests over! But it's wonderful that you're addressing the problem now before it becomes a more serious one down the line!

To train your Growlithe, make sure your basics are down-pat. If your Growlithe starts to growl or bark at other people, use your standard "quiet" command to settle him down. If he starts to chase something, recall him back to you through a command or your Pokéball. As soon as he obeys your command, give him a treat! Be sure not to accidentally reward his behavior by giving your dinner scraps or other positive reinforcements when he's showing aggressive behavior. Think of him as a toddler who's testing their boundaries. They want to know what they can get away with and what they can't. But unlike toddlers, a Growlithe is much more likely to listen to you! Training him shouldn't be a problem, but a refresher can always be helpful.

Once the basics are down, you can start managing your Growlithe's anxiety around strangers. You can start getting them comfortable with other people in the house by giving them a chew-toy they can gnaw on to ease their anxiety, and gate off the rooms where you're entertaining guests. Next, you can slowly desensitize your Growlithe by associating visitors with positive rewards. Give them a treat when they are in the same room as a guest without growling (better yet, have the guest give them a treat!), and slowly increase the closeness over time. Be patient, and take this in gradual steps!

If you think your Growlithe might bite or otherwise harm you or someone else, please contact your local professional Pokémon trainer. You can also check with your local police station. Ours in town hosts training events where officers help train people's Pokémon (especially Growlithes, of course). These professionals will know how to train your Pokémon safely using gradual stages of desensitization to get your Pokémon comfortable with other people.

Some new trainers may be afraid that a Pokémon who isn't territorial will not guard their owners when it really counts, but Pokémon have an uncanny knack for sensing trouble! Your loyal friend will always have your side.