Concerning the "tickle" thing, my balls do it, too. I don't know if they like it or not. Sometimes I'll stroke my finger down their sides and they scrunch up like it reall does tickle them. They really don't seem to mind though. My boy seems like he accutually enjoys it. Sometimes he comes back for more. And my girl has a habbit of rubbing her face on my hands and I pet her chin. I guess I do treat them like dogs...