The Albion boss used the word for how his Albion striker can sense openings.
Welbeck returns to his first club Manchester United today amid renewed debate over whether he should be in the England frame.
That talk has been fuelled by a flurry of four goals in the last three games, including two match-winning doubles.
Hurzeler said: “I think we have a phrase or a name, it's called ‘Sniffer’.
“I don't know if you have this phrase in England.
“I tried to translate it. A sniffer is to sniff, to smell like when a ball comes down, when a ball drops in the opponents' box, and to be ready then to finish the attack.
“I think the prime example was against Newcastle, when Mats Wieffer tried to finish the attack, and Danny followed this attack, and then the ball was defended by a defender from Newcastle, and Danny Welbeck was there to finish the attack.
“That's what I mean by smelling goals, by being a sniffer, and therefore he's a prime example for this phrase.”
Hurzeler was then told that Allan Clarke, who scored 223 league goals, was known as Sniffer for that same reason.
Clarke made his name with the mighty Leeds side of his day and played for England.
But, once the chance has been sniffed out, it still needs to be finished.
Hurzeler said of Welbeck: “He has also the skill to finish the attack.”
The Albion boss is in regular contact with his compatriot Thomas Tuchel but said they tend to share general football chats rather than discussing specific players.
He was non-committal on the subject of Welbeck making the World Cup but added: “I'm sure that Thomas will watch him.
“I'm happy that I see that England is progressing well with Thomas and I'm sure that he will make the right decisions and let's see what he will decide regarding Danny.”