We have a "wild" rose (pink, 5 petals, bushy-- basically looks like this guy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wild_rose_flower.jpg) that's been in the garden for probably 60 years. Blooms usually twice a year. Super hardy. Lots of very small vicious thorns.

In regards to that last point... I was wondering if anyone would have some tips on how to prune this type of rose? I believe my mom's tendency over the years was to simply hack it back when it would start to overgrow its bounds, but it would take a year or two to recover and bloom fully again. I'd rather be nicer to it than that, but it's been several years, and it's hanging over the edges of the patio and snagging me when I walk by, so it does needed to be pruned back. How should I best broach pruning this kind of bush to not stress it and not heavily effect the blooming?