Forgive me if this is already common knowledge, it's just I hadn't heard of it till recently. I saw a video clip of this technique and tried it for the first time last week and again another twice yesterday.
When you find a tick on your dog, get a cotton bud and dampen it with water. Place the cotton bud against the skin next to and touching the tick. Push the tick with the cotton bud around and around in an anti clockwise direction, keep going for as long as it takes, maybe 20 25 turns, until the tick detatches. Voi la. Sorted. I wrap the nasty little critter in kitchen tissue and make sure I step heavily on the tissue to kill it.
Until now I used to spray ticks with Frontline spray and wait sometimes days for the thing to drop off. In future I'll be doing it this way, it's brilliant. It doesn't take much to impress me does it?

I use tweezers and running the water hot in the sink, it goes down there - dead.   There is a tick removing instrument you can buy for the job.   http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tick+removers&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=31506596120&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14835385390766838985&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4rgltjtzkc_e

I prefer to use the tick spanners, but if they are very tiny I too use tweezers and the down the sink method.
Found a couple of crawlers on Isla after our walk yesterday in some deer infested woodlands, they are the very devil to kill requiring either strong fingernails or, in may case, the edge of a cup on the table.

I'd recommend this type: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Otom-Tick-Twister-Pack-2/dp/B0089BOK12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436969904&sr=8-1&keywords=tick+removers

Easy to use and 2 different sizes for different sized ticks.

I used to just slot the gadget under the tick and pull but the slow twizzling motion is much easier for the dog, they don't notice it being done, and the disgusting little creatures come out easily :)

I too love the Tom o Tick removers they're so easy to use. I can see the cotton bud method being ok in short hair but would be tricky if the tick was in the middle of a schnauzer beard or leg furnishings

I use the little green things that, it would appear, are very popular.    And it doesn't take 20 to 25 turns, so all good.

A bit like Mamabas I do enjoy pouring boiling water over them in the sink.

Another Tick Otom user here. I removed one from by boys eyelid last year (or so ago). Would never have attempted the same area with tweezers or anything else. Took about 2 turns and it fell out. Cue me screaming like a big girls blouse and frantically jumping up and down until I saw the fat little thing pop. *shudder*
I have about 20 of them lying around somewhere. 2 that never leave the first aid box and the other 18 or so in various dog walking coats, poo bag dispensers, trouser pockets and probably washing machine filters.

Another OTom user ... Great little things

I'm another for the o'tom tick remover, takes seconds, easy and fast and then like others here I pour boiling water on them