Shepherd

Erma Shepherd, usually simply called Shepherd, is the captain of the Rescue Corps in. She is Oatchi's trainer and leads the group's mission. She is the second member of the Rescue Corps found in the tutorial, being found holding onto a pole in the Burrow of Beginnings surrounded by 3 Bulborb Larvae; defeating the Bulborb Larvae will let Shepherd come down from the pole to join the player character and Collin. In the Rescue Command Post, talking to Shepherd lets the player spend Oatchi's Pup Drive to train Oatchi and unlock new abilities.

Personality and appearance
Shepherd has a egg-shaped head, long ears, dark skin, and blonde hair styled in a bun with a long curl on the side. She also wears a bandana that matches her spacesuit color and has blue grease paint under her eyes.

Shepherd takes a lot of interest in dogs, being the one who trains Oatchi and other Rescue Pups. She is eager to talk about the good attributes of dogs, as seen when Olimar occasionally talks about his own dog. Though she has a love for animals, Shepherd has a contrasting view on the Pikmin at first, being rather frightened of them. Later in the game, she seems to warm up a bit to the Pikmin, showing sadness when they die. Shepherd is straightforward and commanding. Her perspective seems to be very surface level, such as not questioning the morals of the game's antagonist in favor of repeatedly ordering the player to catch them. Her impulsivity and anxiety can hinder her role as a captain. Her apprehensive yet headstrong persona provides contrast to the humble, tranquil Collin. Additionally, Shepherd is the only helping character to playfully taunt the player.

Pikmin Garden bio
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Naming
Fitting with the dog theme of Pikmin 4 character names, Shepherd's name comes from the breed of dog. Additionally, a "shepherd" can refer to someone who guides or watches over a group of people, alluding to Shepherd's role as captain of the Rescue Corps.