Heh I just had a go at using the original program (which is free!)
http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/free/
Its pretty much an art program but with an 'Optipustic' tool. I'm surprised they dont add that tool or something similar into photoshop... Anyway its pretty much the same as how I did it except it stays 1 pixel large, uses only 1 gradient (unlike a range of gradients in my example) and it has a bunch of configerable settings, and the ability for branches to bend and split etc. Pretty good little innovative tool there though