A dispensing device for the dispensed application of a highly viscous product onto a substrate, comprising: - a housing having an inner face and an outer face and a first end, which end faces the substrate when the dispensing device is actuated, and a second end opposite the first end, the housing having an opening in the region of the first end, - a cartridge, which is arranged at least substantially within the housing and forms a receiving space for the highly viscous product to be dispensed, the cartridge having a dispensing opening arranged in the region of the first end of the housing, via which dispensing opening the highly viscous product can be dispensed from the dispensing device, - a plunger, which is arranged inside the housing and at least partially inside the cartridge and which forms a boundary of the receiving space opposite the outlet opening, a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge causing a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge in the direction of the discharge opening when the dispensing device is actuated, as a result of which the highly viscous product can be discharged from the cartridge through the discharge opening, - a spring element which is arranged between the inner face of the housing and the cartridge and which, when the dispensing device is actuated, is pre-loaded by the movement of the housing relative to the cartridge such that after actuation of the dispensing device, due to a restoring force of the spring element, the housing is moved back into its starting position with respect to the cartridge, characterized in that at least one locking element is formed on the inner face of the housing and in that a series of adjacent locking recesses is formed on the plunger, both the locking element and the locking recesses being arranged outside the receiving space, and the locking element engaging in a locking recess on the plunger when the dispensing device is actuated, such that a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge and thus discharge of the highly viscous product from the dispensing device can be caused by a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge, and, after actuation of the dispensing device, the return movement of the housing into its starting position causing a transition of the locking element from the locking recess into an adjacent locking recess. - a housing having an inner face and an outer face and a first end, which end faces the substrate when the dispensing device is actuated, and a second end opposite the first end, the housing having an opening in the region of the first end, - a cartridge, which is arranged at least substantially within the housing and forms a receiving space for the highly viscous product to be dispensed, the cartridge having a dispensing opening arranged in the region of the first end of the housing, via which dispensing opening the highly viscous product can be dispensed from the dispensing device, - a plunger, which is arranged inside the housing and at least partially inside the cartridge and which forms a boundary of the receiving space opposite the outlet opening, a movement of the housing relative to the cartridge causing a movement of the plunger relative to the cartridge in the direction of the discharge opening when the dispensing device is actuated, as a result of which the highly viscous product can be discharged from the cartridge through the discharge opening, - a spring element which is arranged between the inner face of the housing and the cartridge and which, when the dispensing device is actuated, is pre-loaded by the movement of the housing relative to the cartridge such that after actuation of the dispensing device, due to a restoring force of the spring element, the housing is moved back into its starting position with respect to the cartridge,