My dog just had puppies. We don't know where she's hidden them, though. If we look for them and find them, is there a chance that she will abandon them? I know a mother bird will abandon her nest if it smells like a human. Are dogs the same way?

No, she won't abandon them, but you should try to find them, Do you live on a farm, or near a wooded area that she is able to run free? Just follow her, you'll find them. Our dog had her litter in an old barn, under the floor boards which was very tricky getting them out, but we managed. We thought one of them was dead--it wasn't moving and didn't seem to be breathing, but my brother took it and massaged it for a couple of minutes, and low & behold it started squirmming. Pokey, our dog, was very happy to see her poor baby was okay.

You must search for these puppys as some may be injured or dead, how do you know that she hasn't already abandoned them? You are fine to handle the puppys and get them into a whelping box with mum as soon as possible.