Does this tiny dog really not need training?

[SoonMeansNever]

Hello doggy people! I have a question if that's ok?
I don't have a dog, and am not a dog person, but have gleaned enough on here and IRL to get the impression that whatever dog you have, you ought to train it thoroughly to have good recall and to stop when told, be under control when off lead etc.
Now then - DSis has a tiny tiny dog (similar to a miniature Poodle but a bit smaller), now about 18mo, smaller than their cats, really slight build - mentioning this to make the point that it's not a muscled breed like a JR, and would struggle to damage a paper bag. She has a lovely nature, not at all snappy.
Before they got her she said they would be training her, but in reality they just have the absolute basics from a short course when she was a small pup.
She goes off lead occasionally, and certainly wouldn't come back to me when I walked her, so thereafter I kept her on lead in case we came across something unexpected (dog/tractor/bike etc). She won't sit when asked, heel, or stay if I ask, tho responds better to DSis it doesn't seem reliably so. She is still quite young so excitable, and as far as I can see they don't plan to do any further training.
So - should they? And was I being daft to think she would follow instructions from me at all?
After all, she's a tiny wee thing, it's not the same as a great big Lab being untrained surely?

We are currently the ones in charge of the badly trained mad barky boxy dog.

Please forgive us. She isn't ours, we're walking her to help out a sick neighbour, and she doesn't seem to know anything. Allegedly responds to Sit, Stay, Heel and Come here, but not when I'm saying it, so for the moment it's a case of wrestling her out of the way in dire embarrassment. Elderly ladies clutch their poodles to their chests protectively when they see her coming .

Yes, it does need training! A real pet peeve of mine is people with little dogs who refuse to actually treat them like dogs!! I've had a few little dogs come to me as fosters before going to be rehomed and their prior treatment - whilst not abusive per se - had not done them any favours at all!!

If you don't bother to train any dog I think you're saying it hasn't got a brain which needs occupying. Training isn't just about making them obedient but also giving them a purpose.

MrsD Is it is a pungsan? apparently they sound like a chicken laying an egg when they bark, no wonder they don't do it that often.

Trained small dogs are a delight, however I can see that it could be easier to pick your dog up rather than go to the effort train them and people take the path of least resistance. But yes, OP - they should train the dog!

I'd like to see a boxy dog

Ah I love all this, thank you everyone! MN is The Oracle, always a good range of knowledge and opinion.
Now I really want to hear a Pungsan bark....

DSmallDog still has wee accidents in the house and I'm sure DSis is losing patience with that, so perhaps she'll knuckle down to some more training soon especially if I email her tons of links on clickers etc.
I mostly just want to stop her licking my feet whenever they're in range! She really is a lovely dog, and the right choice for their family/lifestyle, just needs a little more control.

I'd agree with you MrsDV about them putting up with a lot, everyone who passes wants to paw at her, and some don't ask. Being so tiny it must be quite scary to get pounced on like that by giant humans.
Last time I walked her (on lead) in the woods a woman refused to recall her two larger bouncy dogs that were all over her, she could easily have been injured by them accidentally.