*Great points Folie! I, too, have wondered why Smokey doesn't run right down to the beach ~ is he kept on a short chain (that I can hear winding and unwinding on a wench whenever he's around)?
*I, too, too, have wondered about the Others going themselves to scout the losties - why get your hands dirty. You should stay at home and 1) get Juliet's house plumbing finally fixed 2) concentrate more on the books in the book club 3) try to set the high score on the videos in the game room. We know Smokey can grab ahold of a person ala Locke, Eko, the Pilot or at least scan them - we promise we won't shock you with the fence if your a good dog and fetch us what we command.
I think the other Others, not the Ben-Others control Cerberus, ergo the need for the fence.

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