We don't use flea/tick preventives because ticks aren't common here and flea season is isolated to a very small number of months (maybe May-August, at most). For that reason, I kill 'em as I sees em If I find a flea on one of the dogs, I'll apply all the dogs and the fleas disappear in a matter of days/weeks.

Of course, that probably won't work in hotter or more humid climates, but it's been my personal (and financial) preference to treat them only as much as necessary. So if your pup doesn't have a high susceptibility to fleas in the winter, you can maybe skip those months and focus on spring/summer. (Don't skimp on the heartworm, though!)