snake in my backyard how to know if it is safe for my yorkie ( southern California )?

If it had a longitudinal yellow strip, it is most likely harmless. The only snakes in the US that are venomous are rattlers, the copperhead, the coral snake (which has alternating red, yellow, black rings around its body) and the cottonmouth which is black and hangs out near water.

Dogs often get into trouble with rattlesnakes. Unlike cats, which are quick enough to kill even rattlesnakes, a dog very often get bit in the face. They often die if the snake is venomous. Even if treatment is available, antivenin can be very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars per dose. If you want your dogs to be safe, keep them indoors. An alternative is to build a drift fence around your property. a drift fence is made of plastic sheets and they do keep snakes and lizards out. Scientists use drift fences and funnel traps to capture snakes, lizards, salamanders and other small animals. The drift fence is a barrier that cannot be easily crossed by these animals, so they tend to move alongside the fence looking for a way through, and they can then unwittingly enter a trap placed along the fence.

A snake that is black with a yellow stripe is either a garter snake or a striped phase common kingsnake, most likely a common kingsnake.

http://suncoastherps.com/animals/kings/stripecalki...

If you live in Southern California, the only venomous snakes are rattlesnakes. Therefore anything that that does not have a rattle is not deadly venomous (barring the rare instance of a rattle-less rattlesnake).

http://orgs.unca.edu/tulula/images/drift2.jpg

California Striped Racer

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Not poisonous. The only native California snake that is venumous is the rattlesnake. Most snakes are harmless.

Be happy nature survives in your yard. Hope the dogs do not harm the snake.

Sounds like it might be a Whipsnake...not venomous. The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake is probably the only one in your area that you would have to worry about. Red Diamond Rattlesnake is possible too..but they are very reddish in color so you can outrule that one. The Southern Pacific is very patterned..not just black with a stripe. Also, did you see it's head? Was it diamond shaped? Only rattlesnakes have a diamond shaped head. From your description..I don't know of ANY venomous species in that area that match your description.

California Whipsnake:

http://www.google.com/search?q=california+whipsnak...

It was a California Striped Racer

harmless to people and dogs

Eats lizards, small rodents, small birds, frogs, salamanders, small snakes.

Diurnal

I would say no, you don't have anything to worry about. A twenty inch snake won't swallow your dog, and your description indicates a gartar snake or other harmless snake.

There is no way to tell.

Call animal control if you believe the snake is still in your yard. Don't leave EITHER of your dogs outside unattended.

If the snake is venomous, even though it's small, it could hurt of kill either of your dogs.