It sounds like you have the recirculating type of heater. You can screw an on-off valve into the engine outlet. May be possible to somewhat regulate the heat by opening it like a garden valve but that would involve stopping and adjusting it underhood.

I added the valve shown in the linked picture with a cable to adjust flow or shut it off. I don't think it matters which hose goes to which fitting.
The water just makes a loop.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/Hookalatch/Heater/IMG_1752.jpg