Nah, they ain't an idiot. They're just too young to control their electricity.

[ Hey Larxene, here's a guy with a Pichu of his own, perched on his shoulder and waving. And a Raichu is sat beside him, who definitely has an air of smug confidence about her. ]

But if you treat em good and train them, they can learn to manage it and use it damn well in fights! An Tintreach here was a Pichu once. [ He pet the Raichu, who grinned and let some sparks fly from her cheeks. ]