We have been using a pill called Comfortis and it is in my opinion the best flea killer on the market. It kills the fleas/ticks when they bite them and repels them from even getting on the dog. We live in the country and Possie plays in the creek and runs through the weeds and has a ball. We haven't had a flea problem since we started using this pill. It works for 30 days.
Good Luck!