It's highly unlikely that your dogs would be considered "prey" by a coachwhip. Also since they are not venomous, in the event that they did bite your dog, it would not be a direct problem. However, like any wound, it could become infected.

Other than that, enjoy them and congratulations for providing suitable habitat for nature.

wanda

semper anguis in herbis
always a snake in the grass

yes, it is a good thing, as Wanda says. I doubt the snake will bother you or the dogs, but I bet you will tread carefully for a while, eh?

Thanks for the relieving comments. I guess now I have a whole food chain going on in my yard! haha. I like having frogs/toads around becuase they eat slugs and other annoying insects. Now, the snakes will feast on the frogs. This has probably been going on the whole time without me even knowing about it. haha. After reading that coachwhips are good climbers, I worry about the hummingbirds that frequent my yard. I've purposely planted salvias, aloes, callistemon... to attract them. I guess nature will take its course. As for me, I will be more careful now. Especially when picking fruit from my trees, and fruit off of a huge trellis of passiflora edulis. That tangle of a vine is home and shelter for lots of birds.

Wow! That's fantastic. Coachwhips won't bother your dogs, but your dogs might enjoy playing with the coachwhips. I would try to train the dogs to avoid the snakes, just in case a stray rattler moves through.

I've never seen an 8 ft coachwhip in Calif. They rarely get that long in other regions. Coachwhips change color somewhat as they mature. It sounds like you found a hatchling. They lay eggs. Some snakes bear live young, but not coachwhips. Some subspecies of coachwhips are popularly known as "red racers." At the moment I'm in AZ and away from my library to check your subspecies. They capture prey with their mouth and by hold it down with a loop of the body, but they're not constrictors. Snakes have recurved teeth to hold prey. A coachwhip is unlikely to capture and hold even the smallest dog, but the snakes can deliver a nasty bite. For you, you'd have to catch it to be bitten. I like your attitude: curious but not overreactive.

Wow, that's awesome!

I don't believe the coachwhip is a constrictor, so even if there was one who grew to be 8 feet long, I still don't think they would be interested in your dogs.
It would not be like having an 8 foot python or boa in your yard.

If you don't want that gopher/mouse/vole eater I'll take it! Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't enjoy the change in climate and location.

Coachwhips are not constrictors. They catch prey and hold it down with a flat loop of the body.

lucky you - i'd love to see one in my garden!

Thanks Ccroulet, It seems that they are good hunters. That could explain why I haven't had a single gopher in my yard for over two years. And my yard borders empty fields and so-called winderness - interspersed with fruit fields.

Cajun style ...

Skin, clean and rinse snake well. Cover with whole milk and garlic juice in a plastic mixing bowl, refrigerate overnight. Pat dry, season with paprika, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and desired amount of salt. Add white pepper, oregano, and rosemary to 2 cups flour. Heat shortening in a skillet. Lightly flour the snake and fry until golden-brown.

so, so much cartilage, but not bad.