dog/ dog aggression

Question
I have an extremely loving Staffordshire Bull Terrier. (family daycare, 4 children plus an intense fan club that passes by our fenced yard near town). He's aggressive to some breeds/ ages of dogs passing by. Always wagging his curled tail while sounding like a monster. I direct his attention toward me and tell him to go inside or have him sit looking at me. He's learned to jump our fence and once jumped out the first floor window and over the fence. This is my question...Will a shock collar work on his breed? He's almost 40lbs and close to 5 years old.
    Also, what can I do to contain the response of a couple of incidences where he escaped 3 times in 4 1/2 years and has gone after three different people's dogs (always scary) and been accused of being a giant vicious monster pit bull that is out to destroy people's faces and the world. He went after their dogs and backed off when either by pulling him or yelling at him (he doesn't like me even raising my voice with my own children-he hides and shivers until I comfort him). He has the power to hurt another dog but has never broken or torn skin. He has never ever acted aggressive or sour at any provoking by a child or person. He was accused of going after a woman who claims her dog stepped in to protect her and "took it for her". She just moved in at the end of our street. I brought a Lillie and a dog bone to apologize for the attack. She and her husband claimed they will "carry a pipe" with them every day and if they ever see my dog out they will "KILL IT!" I mentioned the extreme threat holding back tears to the police department who had this attack on record. What position do I take in light of my dogs behavior. Aside from the very "Humane Society" training classes and barriers of escape routes. I need to keep sane with this dog we love so much. How do we keep the violent-people behavior in check?

Answer
In my opinion, shock collars are inhumane, and more likely to cause aggression than to stop it.  Additionally, if the thing the dog wants is more important to him than getting the shock, he will leave the area anyway.  Collars can slip, batteries can fail, and a collar or an electric fence do not stop anyone from stealing your dog, or from hurting your dog.  

You have a breed that is known to be dog aggressive (NOT human aggressive in most cases), and yet you haven't insured that it is contained securely at all times, even after repeated escapes, which is very irresponsible.  Escape is not an option with this breed, and you absolutely must find a way to make certain that he does not escape again.  There is a device called a "coyote roller" that can keep a dog from scaling a fence, if he is climbing out.  I know you love your dog, but you need to keep him indoors, or on a leash at all times.  If he needs exercise, you can get him to chase a ball down a hallway, run on a treadmill, or you can go running with him, but leaving him out in the yard, or being sloppy about not latching the door are things that could get him killed.  Regardless what the lady told you, her dog was likely not protecting her, and she was in little danger, since the original target WAS her dog.  But, what difference does that make?  Those people have every right to defend themselves or their own dog against a *perceived* threat from an uncontrolled dog.  Dogs on leashes rarely attack anyone or anything, and that's where your dog belongs, no exceptions.  The people who love the bully breeds have an increased responsibility to each other, and to the dogs, not to allow even one more bully to become a statistic.  One key to solving this problem is that your dog needs to be impeccably trained to come when called (see Leslie Nelson's DVD "Really Reliable Recall" available at www.cleanrun.com).  But, you are responsible for containing the dog - which should never be outside alone without you on the other end of his leash!  At the risk of receiving a bad review for manners, I cannot stress this enough.  Responsible ownership requires that you insure that your dog is not a nuisance to others.  If you cannot afford the required fencing, then you must be sure the dog remains on lead at all times.