So you have a wife and a staffordshire terrier (pit bull)  Simply get a good
down quilt.  Put your feet on the dog in the morning to warm up and a
flowerpot on the stove for a few minutes to warm the cabin.   The dog can
handle the cold.  The wife...

Propex is a good solution.  I use a 2600btu Ancient Coleman catalytic as a
quick warmer.  Not recommended for the faint of heart.  A very dry unglazed
flowerpot placed upside down over one stove burner will do a bit to offer a
radiant heat source for a few minutes.  Wif under quilt, feet on dog I
say...