*that gets a slight raised eyebrow, but otherwise his expression is still calm*

Have you tried asking the opinion of your partner there on the matter? In most cases, it's the pokemon themselves who desire to hone and test their skills in the first place.

*and some with no interest in battling, but in his experience those are the exception, rather than the rule*

There is a ranch in western Johto, and I believe someone runs a breeding center in Kanto, but there's no official "royalty" or such here to have a kennel in the first place.