Raising is optional. :) If you want to get them up a few levels (which is handy as I don't have my Exp. Share yet in SS, and Lucky Eggs only exist post-E4 unless traded beforehand), go ahead, but don't forge into the teens very far as Lv.12 (for Chikorita) is where the first move goes forgotten, and Totodile is at Lv.13. Speaking of, those are the two I'm looking for; I tend to start with Fire. :D I am around the 20s right now myself; I have my Togetic evolved and at Lv.24 as my highest right now (it handled the fourth Gym, Ghost type, along with Kadabra), and my Combusken is not very far behind at Lv.23.
I'm not too overly concerned with being obeyed by them now; I think the E4 is in the 40s for the first run, and the fourth badge gives obedience to anything up to 50, so I'm not even concerned about breeding my own ATM (I might do that someday when importing to Black or White 2 so that the starters themselves remain in Gen. IV). I can use the trainer ID in the lotto corner, too, so I will collect those; I even kept Webster's Spearow by giving the mail to someone else before Route 31 and the 01001 is included in my checks. :)