Please can someone give me some advice on anything I can do to help my fawn and tan dobe. He is 4 years old and is losing his fur. He gets very bad pimples on his skin. I have tried herbal tablets, oil in his food. Any help or advice appreciated.

This is one reason that very few doberman breeders breed the Blue or Fawn colours deliberately (even though they are acceptable in the showring), as the dilution in pigmentation also seems linked to very poor haircoat, and as you have found this then causes problems.  All you can really do is maintain the skin by good feeding, use barrier creams on any areas that could get cracked or sore (Vaseline is excellent), and for spots and pimples Nappy rash cream seems to work well, and always use a sun block in the summer on the ears and head and any bare areas on the trunk.

Thanks for your advice, just one thing when you say good feeding what do you mean/recommend. At the moment he eats pedigree light tinned food but I want to wean hom off this.

Pedigree of any sort is like us eating junk food all day.  :)  Since you're looking to get him off of it...check out http://www.bpn4u.com and look at the Burns line of food.  I believe James Well Beloved is supposed to be a good food as well and can be found at Pets At Home.

Look for a food where meat is the first ingredient and a substantial proportion of the entire recipe.  Also a good fat content of a balance of fish and Vegetable oils and animal fat.  My own favourites in the dried range are the foods made by Arden Grange.  Especially good is theri Prestige which is quite a high powered food for active dogs and those needing their condition improved.  What is his weight like?

Another reason for patchy hair loss often combined with lethargy and weight gain is a Thyroid imbalance.  A freidn of mien had two dobes that had to have Thyroxine all their adult lives and they lived to 13 years of age.

We use Autarky dried food and Naturediet meat food for our dogs. I would recommend both. Our veterinary nurse told us that the Reps for Naturediet are encouraged to try it themselves and that the ingredients are all fit for human consumption! It isn't expensive either - we pay 59p for a pack which is 390 grms. The Autarky is stocked by Jolley's - I haven't seen it elsewhere and the manager at our branch recommended it to us ( even though it's pretty cheap compared with some dried food - £14.99 for 15kilos ) it is 22% protein and 12% oil. The Naturediet is 60% chicken in the Chicken rice and carrot variety. Hope you find something to help your Dobe.

You need NZYMES Antioxidant Treats from first4pets.co.uk...do a search for 'skin' or 'hair loss' in the search box on the site for similar...worked a Treat ;-) for my Boxer. I've learned that fixing a dog on the inside can help to fix it on the outside. You should also consider applying Oxy-Drops to the skin 2-3 times a day. It has antiseptic properties and would speed up the healing process of the skin. 

My food of choice would be real food, ie, barf or a home prepared fresh food diet of meat, fresh veg etc.  If you really want to feed commercial food, Burns is the best dry one as there are no additives, colourings etc.  Nature Diet is the best wet one for the same reason.  Frequently skin problems and other ailments are caused by poor quality food with additives, colourings etc.  If you suspect underactive thyroid, add kelp to the food, that is loaded with iodine and corrects thyroid function.

Take a look at this site
http://www.seattle-attorney.com/storm/sup.html
it may help

An owner of a blue in America recommended the Nzymes treats/granules to me, as well as Eaglepack dog food.  I also have a fawn - 2 trs old today! - with bad fur.  Not as bad as yours, he only has the very thin, coarse coat, but I am still going to put him on the food and treats.

Out of sheer curiosity, what were the parents of your boy?  My guy was an accident, his sire was a fawn and his mother a blue.  Not a good combo!

Hope your guy gets better whatever you decide to do!