I’ve adopted a Flechinder off another trainer that didn’t know how to raise a bird Pokémon and its since reinforced a lot of bad habits. He’s now a Talonflame, and I have a lot of problems with his habit of picking fights with my other Pokémon. Do ypu have any tips?

First and foremost, establish trust with your new talonflame. I realize that might be stating the obvious (especially given the fact that you’ve had him long enough for him to evolve), but the stronger a traded pokémon gets, the more likely their trainer will find them difficult to control. This is because even after a considerable amount of time, some pokémon are unwilling to “replace” one trainer with another—or, in other words, they grow less and less accepting of their new trainer, as they feel said new trainer has yet to establish that they’re as trustworthy and strong as their old one. That and some pokémon interpret being traded as being abandoned, and those feelings can fester if not immediately corrected.

I say this because trust is vital for undoing quite a lot of negative behavior. Once your talonflame fully trusts you, he will be more willing to listen to you, which in turn will help you reinforce good behaviors.

After that, a lot of what you’ll need to do will require much patience. Begin by introducing the concept of rewards to him by rewarding him for any good behavior he displays automatically. For an aggressive pokémon, rewards are of the utmost importance, as those have a wonderful tendency to appease tempers. Once he understands what a reward is, move on to teaching him, both verbally and through the use of positive reinforcement, good behaviors. Fail to reward him for the behaviors you wish to phase out. Rather, respond with a firm “no” whenever you see such behavior happening, and reward your talonflame only if he restrains himself. Keep your talonflame close by to effectively manage his behavior, and above all else, be consistent about what you do.

Finally, also try to mediate between your talonflame and the rest of your team. Try to introduce him to your other pokémon in a calm environment, and ensure that both sides are not engaging in provoking behavior. (Naturally, try to train your pokémon not to engage in any provoking behavior you see—and that goes for both your talonflame and the rest of your team.)

As I’ve said, it will take a lot of patience, but it’s surmountable if you’re consistent and vigilant, anonymous. Best of luck!