All of the above... but most commonly I just stick 'em down the back of their throat, hold their mouth closed, and rub their throat to initiate them to swallow.

For cats I just use a piller followed by a syringe with some water.

I'm lucky... for the most part, most of my pets will take their meds by just tossing it in their bowl with their food. Sometimes my older girl will be a little more stubborn and will eat around them, in which case I just pop em down the back of her throat. She has learned to try to use her "jaws of life" on me to clench her mouth closed, but I get my way eventually