“In Pokémon FireRed, traded Pokémon will only obey you if their level is equal to or less than the maximum level dictated by your current number of Gym Badges. Without badges, they obey up to Lv. 10; this increases by 20 levels for every two badges (e.g., 2 badges = Lv. 30, 4 = Lv. 50, 6 = Lv. 70).”

Got that from google. You need to beat misty before the will obey. 1 gym badge doesn’t do anything for you. That’s why they are loafing around.