Harsh Discipline? Is This Going To Far?

My friend, has 2 small havanese dogs. Both are puppies, brother and sister.
When I took them on a walk with her, whenever they would not behave, like walk over to the side or bark at another dog, she would jerk them very hard over to her side and yell, “HEEL!”. She almost swung them off the ground in a choke a thon. I questioned her, asking if this was a *bit* harsh, but she said they need “firm discipline”. I am one of positive training-even if you are harsh, swinging them in the air nearly yanking them over with their collars choking them and screaming at them is extreme, right? How far should discipline go? If she does that again while I am there, what should I do?
I don’t think “firm discipline” is what she is practicing, more like animal abuse.